KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State volleyball picked up its first five-set victory of the season Friday night, outlasting Middle Tennessee 3-2 (25-19, 27-25, 20-25, 24-26, 15-13) in a Conference USA thriller at VyStar Arena.
The Owls (13-14, 7-8 CUSA) won their third consecutive match and snapped a six-match losing streak in five-set contests this season. KSU finished with 60 kills, 12 service aces and 11 team blocks to defeat the Blue Raiders (17-10, 8-7 CUSA), who entered the weekend in third place in the conference standings.
OWL OF THE GAME
Ashlyn Anderson tied her career high with seven blocks while adding 13 kills on .281 hitting (13-4-32) and six digs.
STAT OF THE GAME
Kennesaw State finished with 11 team blocks, compared to seven for Middle Tennessee, including nine from Olivia Burrage. Three of the Owls' blocks came during a decisive 5-1 stretch in the fifth set that turned a 6-5 deficit into a 10-7 advantage.
THE RUNDOWN
Set One (KSU 25, Middle Tennessee 19)
Kennesaw State opened the match with four consecutive points and never trailed in the first set. The Owls extended their advantage to 12-5 behind a balanced offensive attack and built their largest lead at 17-8 following a service ace from Kourtney Brown. Middle Tennessee trimmed the deficit to 19-15, but KSU responded with four straight points, including two service aces from Hannah Pearce. A Blue Raider service error eventually closed out the 25-19 victory.
Set Two (KSU 27, Middle Tennessee 25)
The Owls built an early 9-5 advantage before Middle Tennessee rallied to take a 17-15 lead. KSU answered to move back ahead 19-18, and kills from Anderson helped the Owls reach set point at 24-22. The Blue Raiders responded with three straight points to take a 25-24 lead, but Ava Garner delivered a kill to tie the score. Haley Patterson followed with a kill, and Anna Ofenheusle finished the comeback with a service ace to give KSU a 27-25 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three (Middle Tennessee 25, KSU 20)
Kennesaw State held an early 5-3 advantage before Middle Tennessee used a 9-3 stretch to move ahead 12-8. The Blue Raiders maintained control throughout the middle of the set, eventually extending their lead to 21-14. KSU fought back with a late push that included three kills from Patterson, but Middle Tennessee held on for the 25-20 victory to extend the match.
Set Four (Middle Tennessee 26, KSU 24)
Neither team led by more than five points in a tightly contested fourth set. Kennesaw State used a 5-2 stretch to move ahead 16-11, with Alexis Sowers delivering a service ace during the run. Middle Tennessee rallied to tie the score at 21-21 before taking a 24-22 advantage. Ofenheusle answered with a kill, and Pearce followed with a service ace to even the score at 24-24, but the Blue Raiders collected the final two points to force a deciding set.
Set Five (KSU 15, Middle Tennessee 13)
Middle Tennessee jumped ahead 5-3 before Kennesaw State responded with a critical 5-1 run to take an 8-6 lead at the change of sides. Back-to-back blocks from Burrage and Brown helped fuel the rally. The Owls extended their advantage to 10-7 following another block involving Burrage and Anderson. Middle Tennessee continued to battle, pulling within 13-12, but Ofenheusle delivered a kill to give KSU match point at 14-12. After the Blue Raiders saved one match point, Patterson delivered the final kill to secure the 15-13 victory.
KSU hit .400 in the deciding set, recording eight kills against just two errors.
QUOTABLE
Kennesaw State Head Coach Keith Schunzel
"Big win for our group tonight. Nice time of the year to get our first 5th set win. Another huge one tomorrow where we'll honor our three awesome seniors and enjoy competing in the Convo one last time this fall."
NOTES
- Kennesaw State won its first five-set match of the season after dropping its previous six, improving to 1-6 in five-set contests.
- The Owls extended their winning streak to three matches, their longest since opening the season 3-0.
- KSU recorded 12 service aces, matching its season high set against Jacksonville State on Nov. 5.
- Patterson led the Owls with 17 kills on .282 hitting and added two blocks.
- Brown handed out a season-high 52 assists, along with six digs, two blocks and one service ace.
- Ofenheusle recorded a career-high 15 kills on .289 hitting (15-4-38), adding nine digs and two service aces.
- Burrage recorded eight kills and a match-high nine blocks, increasing her school-record career total to 448.
- Sowers led the Owls with 20 digs and added three service aces.
- Pearce tied her season high with three service aces and collected seven digs.
- Gracie Pynes added two service aces and six digs.
- KSU finished with 65 digs compared to 58 for Middle Tennessee, while outhitting the Blue Raiders .240 to .213.
NEXT TIME OUT
Kennesaw State concludes the regular season Saturday, Nov. 14, hosting Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ at VyStar Arena. The Owls will honor their three seniors as part of Senior Day festivities.
THE CHAMPIONS FUND
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax-deductible philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here.
