By: Mark Wasik
Shocker Volleyball Classic
Friday, August 29
8 p.m. (ET) – ESPN+
Kennesaw State (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) at Wichita State (0-0, 0-0 American)
Saturday, August 30
3 p.m. (ET)
Kennesaw State (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs Arkansas (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Location: Charles Koch Arena | Wichita, Kan.
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KENNESAW, Ga. - For the seventh time in the past eight years, Kennesaw State will start the season on the road as the Owls will compete in the 16th Shocker Volleyball Classic this weekend in Wichita, Kan.
KSU is returning a trip to Wichita State after hosting the Shockers in a pair of games a year ago in the Kennesaw State Invitational in Kennesaw. KSU dropped both matches in 2024, 3-1 on Aug. 30 and 3-2 on Aug. 31 in what was the first-ever meetings between the two schools. The two teams will battle on Friday night in the season opener for both teams, while the Owls will then take on an Arkansas team that is receiving votes in the preseason Top 25 on Saturday afternoon. This will be the first-ever meeting between KSU and the Razorbacks.
A year ago, the story about the Owls was the youth movement as they were routinely playing five freshmen each game, easily the most under Head Coach
Keith Schunzel's first 12 years in Kennesaw. Now, it's about an experienced KSU squad that is picked in the top four in Conference USA with sights on challenging for the league title, as the Owls return the most players from their 2024 squad and the most productivity of any team in the nation.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior outside hitter
Manu Johnsen, a preseason All-Conference USA selection for the second straight year, is one of the top offensive threats in the nation and returns for her final season with the Black and Gold within reach of several career records at KSU including career kills and points. Junior middle blocker
Olivia Burrage had a breakout year and is looking to continue her dominance at the net this season, while the Owls are excited to have the services of redshirt sophomore right side hitter
Haley Patterson back after she missed last season with a knee injury.
