KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State volleyball opened Conference USA play with a hard-fought four-set loss to Sam Houston on Friday night inside VyStar Arena, falling 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 29-31).
The Owls dropped to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in CUSA play, while Sam Houston improved to 10-4 and 1-0 in league action.
STAT OF THE GAME
The service line proved to be the difference, as Sam Houston held a 10-3 advantage in service aces. Kennesaw State also committed 10 service errors in the four-set match.
OWL OF THE GAME
Olivia Burrage finished with 13 kills on a .333 hitting percentage while adding a match-high eight blocks. She accounted for 17 points for the Owls.
THE RUNDOWN
Set One – Sam Houston 25, Kennesaw State 21
The Owls erased an early five-point deficit and used a strong service run from Alexis Sowers to turn a 16-15 deficit into a 19-16 advantage. Sam Houston answered with three straight points to tie the set at 19 before KSU briefly regained a 20-19 lead. The Bearkats responded by scoring six of the final seven points to claim the opening set.
Set Two – Kennesaw State 25, Sam Houston 23
Sam Houston jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Owls steadily chipped away. KSU drew even at 15-15 on an Olivia Burrage kill and took its first lead at 17-16. An Alexis Sowers service ace pushed the advantage to 20-17, and the Owls eventually reached set point at 24-22. After Sam Houston pulled within one, Haley Patterson closed out the set with a kill to even the match at 1-1.
Set Three – Sam Houston 25, Kennesaw State 22
KSU scored the first three points of the frame before Sam Houston answered with five straight. The Bearkats eventually stretched their lead to 13-8, but Kennesaw State battled back and tied the score at 18-18 following a Sowers service ace. The teams were even again at 20 before Sam Houston scored four of the next five points and held off the Owls for the 25-22 victory.
Set Four – Sam Houston 31, Kennesaw State 29
Neither side was able to gain much separation in a back-and-forth fourth set. KSU held an 18-16 advantage before Sam Houston battled back, and the teams remained deadlocked late.
Facing match point at 24-22, Patterson delivered a kill before Kaeley Walz and Burrage combined on a block to tie the score at 24. The Owls fought off multiple match points and earned a set point of their own at 29-28, but Sam Houston answered with the final three points to close out the match, 31-29.
NOTES
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Ashlyn Anderson also recorded 13 kills, hitting a team-best .357, while finishing with seven blocks.
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Patterson joined Burrage and Anderson with 13 kills.
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Alexis Sowers paced the Owls with 17 digs and added two service aces.
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Kaeley Walz handed out a team-high 30 assists, while Kourtney Brown added 16.
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KSU finished with 13 total blocks compared to nine for Sam Houston.
NEXT TIME OUT
Kennesaw State and Sam Houston return to VyStar Arena on Saturday to close out the two-match Conference USA series. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
