Volleyball racked up their seventh sweep of the season in a 3-0 victory against Queens on Saturday in Curry Arena.
The Owls were soaring to new feats as they reached new career highs.
Freshman Manu Johnsen achieved her first career double-double. Johnsen gained a career high in kills (16) and 13 digs. Johnsen also compiled three aces in the match.
The Owls took over the game as they held the Royals to a .102 hitting percentage. KSU also doubled Queens’ kill total for the evening.
In set one, the Owls had the largest lead in almost the entire set by five towards the end of the set. Johnsen was able to put up the winning kill to lead the Owls to 1-0.
Beginning set two, KSU led the competition against Queens, however, the match was immensely close. In this set, the Owls had an 18-12 advantage over the Royals. As the match intensified, the Royals weakened the gap to 22-20, with KSU slightly still ahead. Following two consecutive kills from Johnsen and blocks by Johnsen and Claire Parsons, the ending of the set brought KSU’s score to 2-0.
In set three, KSU scored 11 out of the first 14 points. The Owls dominated this set resulting in a 14 point set win. “I’m happy with the win, but frankly our team is still reeling a little bit from getting our butts kicked last night,” Head Coach Keith Schunzel said. “We have another gear in us that we’re simply not finding right now. Some of it is certainly physical and technical, while much of it is mental.”
As the Owls fought to bounce back from their previous loss against Liberty, Schunzel expressed a few more words about the team in this win against Queens.
“I believe in this team with every ounce I have, but we have to look in the mirror on some things and make some improvements before a huge home and away series coming up with Jacksonville State.” Schunzel said.
McKinley Ferguson accomplished her third double-double of the season while also gaining 36 assists, 10 digs, and six blocks.
Parsons also managed to get 11 kills while posting a .478 hitting percentage. Parsons ended the evening with seven blocks.
Shelby Dennis marched the Owls in digs meanwhile with 23.
Kennesaw State moves to a 10-4 overall record and 3-1 record in league play with this win against Queens. Queens has fallen to 5-12 and 0-4 in the conference this season.
KSU will be playing against Jacksonville State Gamecocks, ASUN frontrunner, on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 PM in Jacksonville, Alabama. The Owls will then travel back home to play the Gamecocks again on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 PM at the Convocation Center.
