By: Mark Wasik
Friday, November 22
CUSA Quarterfinals
4 p.m. (ET) – ESPN+
No. 4 seed Kennesaw State (13-16, 10-8 CUSA)
vs No. 5 seed Middle Tennessee (13-17, 9-9 CUSA)
Location: Memorial Gym | El Paso, Texas
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KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State Volleyball is ready for its first-ever appearance in the Conference USA Volleyball Tournament, as the fourth-seeded Owls will face fifth-seeded Middle Tennessee in the quarterfinals on Friday at 4 p.m. (ET) in El Paso, Texas, on the campus of UTEP.
KSU surpassed all the preseason expectations in its first year as a member of CUSA, as the Owls were picked to finish seventh overall but went 10-8 in its inaugural season to clinch a fourth-place finish. Making that even more impressive was the number of injuries the Owls dealt with during the season, including multiple ACL tears.
The Owls have traditionally played at their highest level in postseason conference tournament play, having reached the semifinals of conference tournament in their last nine years in the Atlantic Sun. To keep their semifinal streak alive, the Owls will have to take down MTSU, who finished 9-9 overall in the league but showed it's a team playing strong at the end of the season by going 2-1 at the end of the season, including a win over the Owls while the lone loss came in five sets to New Mexico State.
KSU is making a return trip to El Paso and Memorial Gym for the CUSA Tournament quarterfinals after dropping two matches a weekend ago at UTEP.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Junior outside hitter
Manu Johnsen, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, has been the Owls' leader on offense as expected. She is posting a team-high 3.80 kills per set, and also has 38 aces and 264 digs on the season (2.42 dps). Her 475.5 points are also a team-high. Also having a strong year is sophomore middle blocker
Olivia Burrage who is contributing 0.90 blocks per set and 2.18 kills per set while hitting a team-high .355. Front line players
Caroline Chastang and
Kiernan Stamey have also shined this year, averaging 1.97 and 1.86 kills per set, respectively.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee brings in a 13-17 overall record into this week's tournament, and finished fifth in the league standings at 9-9, yet were still awarded with four all-conference nominations. The Blue Raiders split their last two series, at both Kennesaw State and then at home against New Mexico State. Friday will be just their fourth neutral game of the year, and they have struggled away from their home court this season, going 3-14 in road and neutral contests.
Adriana Rhoda was a first-team selection who leads the team with 4.02 kills per set, second-best in UCSA. Middle blocker Kiera Booth, libero Laure Jansen and setter Andi Spies meanwhile were all named to the second-team.
