Daniel Miller—Staff Writer
The Kennesaw State volleyball team defeated USC Upstate 3-2 Saturday afternoon in come from behind fashion.
The Owls were led once again by Anaiah Boyer who recorded her fourth consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs.
KSU is now 9-13 on the season and 3-5 in conference play. The Owls had lost five straight entering the match.
“After the (losing) streak we’ve been on, we reframed some goals and we really got to process some things,” Schunzel said. “This happens with young teams. We’re trying to simplify everything point by point.”
Kelly Marcinek compiled 12 kills and Kristi Piedimonte filled the stat sheet with 35 assists to go along with five kills and five digs.
KSU pounced on USC Upstate early racing out a 12-6 to open the first set. An Ace by Piedimonte extended the Owls advantage to 15-8 before Upstate capitalized and trimmed the lead to 19-16.
The Owls called timeout and scored the next five points highlighted by consecutive aces from Ria Ridley resulting in a 25-18 opening set victory.
Sets two and three were much of the roller coaster Schunzel referred that his team was on.
“At first we were real focused and sharp and then we let it go in (sets) two and three and came back and played two pretty good sets in four and five,” KSU head coach Keith Schunzel said.
KSU led early before relinquishing the lead in both sets.
The Owls opened the second set leading 6-4 on a Boyer kill before both squads would go back and forth exchanging leads.
A kill by Cierra Royster gave the Owls a 9-8 lead which was ultimately the last one they would have in the set. Upstate took control going an 8-1 run, and never looked back surging ahead and securing the second set 25-19.
Much of the same occurred in the third set. KSU led 10-5 before an 8-1 Upstate run propelled them to a 25-19 third set victory.
Down 2-1, and on the verge of potentially losing their sixth straight conference game, the Owls opened the fourth set scoring in bunches.
Six consecutive points gave KSU a 6-1 lead ignited by several Upstate attack and service errors. The Owls returned the favor and committed miscues of their own allowing Upstate to make a rally.
A service error by Piedimonte trimmed the Owls lead to 11-9 before a 5-1 run gave KSU a spark which included a diving save from Ridley, who crashed into the boards to save a ball and resulted in KSU building its lead to 16-10.
Despite a late surge which saw USC Upstate close the Owls margin to 21-19, KSU, unlike in previous sets was able to take a punch and hold on.
KSU would dominate the fifth set. In the blink of an eye it was 9-0 and the team would continue the scoring burst en route to a 15-7 victory.
KSU’s next match will be Friday Oct. 31 against Jacksonville at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
