Chastang leads Owls as volleyball wins home opener over Georgia Tech

The Kennesaw State volleyball team won its opening home match as five Owls recorded double-digit kills to beat Georgia Tech 3-1 at the Convocation Center on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Both teams fought back and forth to open the game as the Yellow Jackets edged the Owls 25-23 in the first set. Junior Quin Sutphin and freshman Emma Schurfranz led KSU with five kills each.

The Owls kept close to Georgia Tech throughout the opening set but were unable to overcome a 5-0 run by the Yellow Jackets late in the set.

“I think it was just a little nerves — first game at home, big crowd,” head coach Keith Schunzel said. “I knew once we settled down, we were going to be in good shape if we played well.”

Close competition continued in the second set as it featured nine ties and five lead changes. After multiple rallies, the Owls established a 14-11 lead and did not look back.

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Quin Sutphin (10) reaches for the ball as Tech players prepare to return it during the matchup last Wednesday. Photo credit: Andres Lopez

KSU took the second set by a score of 25-18 due largely to the dominant play of junior outside hitter Lauren Chastang, who finished the match with a team-high 17 kills.

The Owls rode this momentum for the rest of the evening, showing more sound offensive play in the third set by trailing just once and winning by five points.

KSU’s most impressive stretch came in the fourth and final set, as the team scored 10 unanswered points to open with a 11-1 lead. The Owls then maintained a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the set before Sutphin hit the final kill to win the set 25-15 and give the Owls a 3-1 victory.

The student section in the Convocation Center was filled with loud, supportive fans that cheered throughout the night.

Chastang recorded her third straight double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs, while Sutphin, Schurfranz, sophomore Dani Ballou and sophomore Jasmine Brown all finished with double-digit kill totals.

Senior Lexi Broadwater finished with 57 assists — one short of her single-game record — while freshman Shelby Dennis led the way defensively with 19 digs.

“We’re tough,” Schunzel said. “When we handle it, when we pass it, we’re physical and we hit it hard.”

So far, KSU defeated James Madison, Furman and High point to improve its record to 5-2.

Next up, the Owls will come back home this week after sweeping the High Point Invitational over the weekend. The team will play Samford on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. before playing South Alabama the next night.

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