KENNESAW, GA. — A commanding offensive performance from Kennesaw State's Manu Johnsen was too tough to fight off as the Royals fell to the Owls by a score of 3-0 (17-25, 14-25, 21-25) on Tuesday evening inside the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (9-8, 2-4 ASUN) won a back-and-forth first set by a 25-17 margin after finding a solid lead midway through the set. An Alleigh Johnson kill and a block from Kayla McDuffie would cut Kennesaw State's lead to five, but Olivia Burrage and Johnsen took control on the Owls' offense and decided the first-set win.
In the second set, the Owls put down a .593 hitting percentage from 18 kills, 27 attempts, and only two errors. The Owls built an early 7-3 lead before Johnson dropped down a kill to keep the Royals (3-15, 0-6 ASUN) within three. Soon, the Owls would claim a four-point scoring run to get ahead by 11, and their lead would seal the deal for the second triumph.
In the third, Kennesaw State opened up scoring with another Johnsen kill. Despite holding a lead throughout the third set, a four-point run from the efforts of Anna Law, Victoria Bush, and two Owls errors put the Royals within four. Another slam from Jordyn Johnson would cut the lead to three before Kennesaw State's Johnsen responded with her 21st kill of the night. A block from A, Johnson and a kill from McDuffie would push the Royals to 21, but a Royals error and a final kill from Johnsen would sign off on the Kennesaw State victory.
Johnson, Johnson, and Johnsen led offensively on the night — as A. Johnson and J. Johnson each put down nine kills while Johnsen of the Owls collected a season-high 22 kills.
McDuffie led the block with two for Queens. Wood and Law added another block each to the stat line.
Up next, the Royals head back home to face the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears inside the Levine Center on Friday, Oct. 13 with a slated 6:00 PM first-serve.
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