MIAMI, Fla. – Kennesaw State bounced back from Friday night's five-set loss with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-23) sweep of FIU in Conference USA volleyball action Saturday afternoon at Ocean Bank Convocation Center, highlighted by a breakout performance off the bench from freshman Hunter Cook.
The Owls improved to 7-9 overall and 1-3 in CUSA play while earning their sixth sweep among their seven victories this season.
OWL OF THE GAME – HUNTER COOK
Freshman Hunter Cook turned in the best performance of her young collegiate career after entering the match during the second set. Cook came into Saturday with just three kills in nine sets over seven appearances this season, then exploded for 10 kills in only two sets against FIU.
Cook needed just 14 swings to reach double figures, committing only two attack errors to finish with a team-best .571 hitting percentage. She also delivered in one of the match's biggest moments, putting down the kill that tied the third set at 23-23 before KSU scored the final two points to complete the sweep.
STAT OF THE GAME
Kennesaw State was at its best when the pressure was highest. The Owls faced set point at 24-22 in the opening frame and answered with four straight points, then trailed 23-22 in the third before scoring the final three points of the match. KSU scored seven consecutive points across those two late-set situations without allowing FIU to close out either frame.
THE RUNDOWN
Set One – KSU 26, FIU 24
Kennesaw State jumped out to a 9-2 advantage before FIU slowly worked its way back into the set. The Panthers eventually grabbed a 24-22 lead and had two chances to close out the opening frame, but the Owls responded with four straight points. Haley Patterson started the rally with a kill before teaming with Olivia Burrage for a block to tie the score at 24-24. Burrage followed with a kill, and Ashlyn Anderson finished off the comeback with another kill for the 26-24 victory.
Set Two – KSU 25, FIU 21
FIU held a 9-5 advantage before the Owls responded with six straight points to move ahead 11-9. Cook entered the match during the frame and made an immediate impact as KSU took control. The Owls maintained the advantage down the stretch, and back-to-back Patterson kills closed out the 25-21 victory for a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three – KSU 25, FIU 23
The Owls again found themselves in an early hole, trailing 5-1 before putting together a 12-0 run to take a 13-5 advantage. FIU rallied back, eventually tying the score at 18-18 and later taking a 23-22 lead. Cook answered with a kill to even the set at 23-23 before Hannah Pearce stepped to the service line and delivered back-to-back aces to finish off the sweep.
POSTGAME QUOTES - KEITH SCHUNZEL
"Proud of our team for showing up today and fighting hard for a sweep after a really deflating loss yesterday," said Kennesaw State head coach Keith Schunzel. "When this team plays free and confident, good things happen for us, and today for the most part we responded well after last night and mentally got to a good place.
"Excellent match by Sowers, who continues to stabilize us and consistently pass and defend at a really high level. Hunter Cook came off the bench attacking the ball super aggressively and gave us 10 much-needed kills, many in big moments down the stretch."
NOTES
- Kennesaw State improved to 4-2 all-time against FIU.
- Six of KSU's seven victories this season have come by 3-0 sweeps.
- Haley Patterson led KSU with 12 kills and added a career-high four service aces.
- Olivia Burrage finished with eight kills on .300 hitting and added a match-high five blocks.
- Alexis Sowers recorded a team-best 15 digs.
- Kourtney Brown finished with 25 assists and nine digs.
- KSU finished with seven service aces, including four from Patterson and two from Pearce.
- The Owls held FIU to a .182 hitting percentage.
NEXT TIME OUT
Kennesaw State continues its four-match CUSA road swing next weekend with a two-match series at Delaware. The Owls and Blue Hens will meet Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday, Oct. 10 in Newark, Del.
