By Chris Raimondi, Sports Editor
Trailing in the fourth set 23-19 with a 2-1 lead, Kennesaw State mounted a late rally and went on a 6-0 run to clinch the final frame and defeat Georgia Tech 3-1 Friday night in the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Owls (8-3) completed their in-state schedule undefeated at 5-0 with victories over Georgia Southern, Mercer, Georgia State, Savannah State and the Yellow Jackets.
“While we certainly have not arrived yet as a program, tonight was a mile stone win for Kennesaw State volleyball,” KSU head coach Keith Schunzel said. “With beating Tech and going 5-0 against Georgia teams this year, I’m so proud to call our team the unofficial state champs this year and that shows just how far we’ve come in a relatively short period of time.”
KSU battled through a tight first set while neither side gained a lead greater than three points. Each side traded points throughout before the Owls stole the first set 25-23 with Anaiah Boyer and Sydni Shelton securing the final two points.
Tech (9-3) bounced back quickly in the second set and jumped out to a 10-2 lead. KSU tried to slow the Yellow Jackets, but the Owls never managed to close the deficit to less than six points. Georgia Tech claimed the second set 25-16.
KSU responded in the third set with a 10-2 run to open the frame and take command of the match. Tech fought back to make it a five-point set at 24-19, but the Owls forced an error and took the third set 25-19.
The final set produced the same outcome as the first with KSU winning it 25-23. Neither side held a lead greater than four in the final frame and there were seven ties. The Yellow Jackets held a 23-19 lead when they fell apart.
A service error on the next play followed by two kills from Kelly Marcinek and Shelton made it a one point game at 23-22. Georgia Tech then committed three-straight attack errors and the Owls walked away with a victory.
Marcinek led all players with 18 kills while Shelton finished with 13. Kristi Piedimonte had 42 assists and 19 digs.
The Owls begin conference play Saturday, Sept. 26 against USC Upstate at 3 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
