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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kennesaw State Volleyball held a block party on Saturday afternoon, as the Owls recorded 19 total team blocks, the most by the Owls in eight years and third-best ever in program history, on the way to a thrilling 3-2 five-set victory (24-26, 25-20, 17-25, 25-14, 25-9) at Liberty in Conference USA action at Liberty Arena. The win split the season series between the two, and moved KSU to 10-6 overall and into a tie for third place in the conference at 4-2. Liberty meanwhile dropped to 15-4, 3-3 in league action.
STAT OF THE GAME: KSU's 19 total team blocks are the most since the Owls' recorded 21 team blocks at Lipscomb on Oct. 27, 2018. Liberty meanwhile finished with seven total in the five-set contest. Junior middle blocker
Olivia Burrage led the way with a career-high 10 blocks, which is also tied for the third most ever by an Owl in a game.
OWLS OF THE GAME: The senior trio of
Manu Johnsen (20),
Caroline Chastang (10) and
Maggie Butkovich (10) all posted double figures in kills, while Johnsen added 18 digs and Chastang 15 to each record a double-double.
THE RUNDOWN – The only set that was truly tight the entire way was the opening set. KSU never led in the set but always stayed within striking distance, and tied the score at 24-24, before the Flames used a pair of kills to take a 1-0 advantage. Set two meanwhile was back and forth at the start until the Owls slowly pulled away, and after the score was tied at 19-19, Butkovich recorded a kill and a block to fuel a set-ending 6-1 run that knotted the game at one apiece. Liberty grabbed the momentum back in the third, going up 13-7 early on the way to an eight-point win. Not to be outdone, the Owls put together their best set of the weekend to date, blitzing out to a 10-3 edge in the fourth. The Flames were held to just 14 total points in the set as KSU closed out to force a clinching fifth set. This time the Owls kept the momentum, scoring five of the first six points and never letting go of the lead. After Liberty closed within 9-7, the Owls scored the next four points to essentially put the game away.
POSTGAME QUOTES
KSU HEAD COACH KEITH SCHUNZEL
"Gutsy win by our group. A lot of character and toughness in that match. That's the fight and grittiness we have to have, particularly on the road. It has to be every point, every game, every single day. Relaxed and free, but with a back to the wall fight and intensity. That's something our group has to continue to learn that that is what it takes to play at a championship level.
Thought we played our cleanest and best volleyball in sets four and five, and at the same time put Liberty on their heels, both which were awesome to see.
1-1 on the road against a good Liberty team is well done by our women."
NOTES
-Burrage nearly missed a double-double, as in addition to her 10 blocks she finished with nine kills.
-
Kaeley Walz posted a team-high 27 assists and added 13 digs for a double-double.
-KUS hit .78 (59K-28E-169TA) for the contest.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls will be back in action next weekend as they start a four-game homestand. First up will be a pair of games against Jacksonville State on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. in VyStar Arena. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
