Nov. 1, 2008

Box Score

DeLAND, Fla.--A pair of Florida freshmen had a big match for the Kennesaw State volleyball team as Rachael Albright had a double-double and Callie Churchwell had nine kills and four total blocks to propel the Owls to a 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-23) over Stetson in an Atlantic Sun Conference match.

"I think we did a great job of rebounding from last night's match," said KSU head coach Valerie Jones. "Our serving was better, our team chemistry was better. It was truly a team effort. Even from when we started our walk-through, our enthusiasm as good and our focus level was very high. It was good to see our team rewarded for their efforts today."

The first set was a difficult one for the Owls as KSU (6-19, 5-11) trailed twice by five, the last time coming at 22-17. After a timeout, it was time for a strong KSU run, starting with a kill by redshirt sophomore Sabrita Gulley. After a kill for sophomore Eman Burns, the Hatters earned the next point to gain a 23-19 lead. KSU would earn the serve back on a block by sophomore Paris Leonce and Churchwell. Leonce came through with a kill on the next point, sending Stetson into a timeout up 23-21.

The timeout didn't slow down the Black and Gold as an attack error by the Hatters brought the Owls within a point. Leonce dropped home an attack to tie the set at 23-23. Churchwell and junior Asjia Stokes teamed for a block, giving the Owls set point, 24-23, and capping the run at 7-1.

From there, the back-and-forth went to another level for the teams. Stetson (4-20, 1-15) earned the next two points thanks to a kill and an attack error, giving the Hatters set point. Stokes powered home a kill to tie the set, following with another kill to give the Owls set point, 26-25. Stetson earned a point with a kill, but that would be their final point of the opening set. Stokes tallied another kill and the Hatters followed with an attack error, giving the Owls the first set, 28-26.

In the second set, the Owls opened up a 7-2 lead, but Stetson came back to tie the score at 9-all. The Black and Gold then rolled off six straight points, getting two aces from Stokes, a pair of kills from junior Chelsey Denesha and two Hatters attack errors to take a 15-9 lead.

The Owls would extend the lead to seven, 18-11, on a kill by junior Ginny Frederick. The Hatters would get as close as four, 22-18, but the Owls would close out the set on a kill by Denesha, giving the Owls a 25-19 win in the set.

The third set was tied at 14-14, but the Owls scored four straight points to lead 18-14. Stetson answered back off a timeout to tie the score and the set would stay tight until the end. A pair of blocks for KSU opened the lead up to two, 20-18, but Stetson answered with two points to even the score. Denesha put KSU up 21-20, with Stetson scoring the next point to tie. Denesha earned another kill, but Stetson would again tie with a kill. KSU inched closer to the win on a Stetson attack error, but again the Hatters tied the set wtih a kill. The Owls earned set and match point on a kill by Churchwell. After trading the last seven points, the Black and Gold were not to be denied as Stokes' final attack of the match gave KSU a 25-23 win in the set and a 3-0 win in the match.

It was a solid match statistically for many Owls, with Albright's 19 assists and 13 digs highlighting the effort. Stokes led the Owls with 11 kills, with Churchwell hitting for a .350 attack percentage. On the back row, junior Selina O'Leary set a Kennesaw State record with 21 digs in a three set match. Denesha had 16 digs as well for the Owls. The Owls had eight blocks as a team with Churchwell, Leonce and Denesha all getting four total blocks.

Kaylee Ream had 13 kills and 14 digs for Stetson.

The Owls will return to