By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State started out strong but couldn't keep up the momentum after the first set, as the Owls' four-match win streak was snapped in a 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21) setback to Middle Tennessee in CUSA volleyball action on Saturday afternoon from the Convocation Center. The Owls dropped to 10-6 in league play, and stand at 13-14 overall for the season.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls finished with a .293 hitting percentage in the first set, but were under .200 in the next three sets, losing all four. MTSU was consistent throughout meanwhile, hitting over .200 in all four sets and .272 for the game.
THE RUNDOWN – Four early aces from the Owls gave them an 11-4 lead in the opening set. A late 7-1 run would give MTSU its first lead of the day at 22-21, but the Owls would close out the set thanks to three unanswered points to put the home team up 1-0. Set two had KSU up 6-3 before a 4-0 spurt changed both the momentum of the set and the match. The set would be tied several more times, the last at 14-14, but a 9-2 run gave the Blue Raiders the advantage as they would claim an eight-point set win. They let almost the entire way in set three as well for a seven-point advantage and a 2-1 lead. The fourth set was more competitive, with the Owls leading for the early portion, before a MTSU run made it a tight contest midway through. It was a 16-16 contest when the Blue Raiders scored six of the next seven points for a 22-17 lead and they would close out the contest with the set victory.
POSTGAME QUOTES
KSU HEAD COACH KEITH SCHUNZEL
"Similar to last night in those guys served the snot out of the ball and their physicality is a lot to handle.
Dissimilar to last night in our serve receive really fell apart today, our second touch wasn't nearly as good and our offense never really got going.
That in turn put a ton of pressure on our defense all day and we just couldn't slow them down. I thought they had a setter and a couple hitters that willed that team to compete and win, and unlike last night we didn't match that level. Tough day for us against a very good ball club."
NOTES
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Manu Johnsen led the Owls with 20 kills, eight digs and a .340 hitting percentage.
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Kourtney Brown finished with a team-high 20 assists, while
Kaeley Walz had a double-double with 13 assists and 13 digs.
Maggie Byrd paced the team in blocks with seven.
NEXT TIME OUT: KSU closes out the regular season with a pair of games against UTEP in El Paso, Texas on Nov. 15 and 16.
