By: Mark Wasik
2025 Conference USA Quarterfinals
Friday, November 21
Kennesaw State (18-8, 12-4 CUSA) vs #6 Jacksonville State (14-14, 8-8 CUSA)
7 p.m. – ESPN+
Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Miami, Fla.
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State Volleyball opens play in the 2025 Conference USA Tournament as the third seed, and will take on sixth-seed Jacksonville State on Friday at 7 p.m. in quarterfinal action from the campus of FIU in Miami. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
- The Owls come into the tournament as winners of nine of their last 11 games, including a road sweep at New Mexico State last weekend that moved KSU up into a tie for third place in the conference with FIU. Thanks to the Owls' season sweep over the Panthers, KSU won the tiebreaker to earn the third seed.
- Jax State won three of its last four games to secure their spot in the tournament. The two teams have become very familiar with each other, having competed against each other in the Atlantic Sun before moving over to CUSA.
- The Owls have dominated the overall series though, with a commanding 10-3 lead that includes a seven-game win streak. That Owls won both games this season, a 3-1 win on Oct. 17, and a 3-0 sweep on Oct. 18, with both games being played in Kennesaw.
- The two teams have met twice before in postseason play. As the sixth-seed, KSU claimed a 3-2 win over the third-seed Gamecocks in the 2022 ASUN Quarterfinals, while in the 2021 tournament, Jax State squeaked out a 3-2 victory in the semifinal round. That also marked the last time the Gamecocks claimed a win over KSU.
- The Owls have made the semifinals of a conference tournament in ten straight years (once in CUSA, nine straight years in the ASUN), and will be looking to make it 11 straight with a win over the Gamecocks.
- KSU has been steadily improving offensively each time out, and now rank 71st in the nation in hitting percentage as a team at 0.245, one of its highest in years and currently the fourth best in CUSA.
- It's a strong year for the conference in the national RPI rankings, as UTEP has appeared in the top 25 several times and is 15th this week while Western Kentucky is currently at 30. The Owls meanwhile are the fourth-highest team in CUSA at 91, while FIU is 84.
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.
