KENNESAW, Ga. – Despite a comeback, down two sets to one, the Jacksonville University volleyball team dropped a conference match at Kennesaw State in five sets 3-2; (26-24, 28-30, 19-25, 25-17 and 15-17). The Dolphins fell to 12-12; 3-6 in conference matches while Kennesaw extends its record to 10-13; 4-5. 

"This was a hard fought battle and people stepped up to contribute to the team effort," said head coach Julie Darty, "however, it just wasn't enough to overcome a very tough, feisty Kennesaw State team. Good news is, tomorrow is a new day and it brings another opportunity to improve and compete."

Four Dolphins tallied double-digit points as junior Sammie Strausbaugh recorded a team-high 16 kills and 19 digs en route to a 17 point evening. Junior Emily Laskelle had 15 kills for 17.5 points, sophomore Kelly Koop posted 11 kills and 13 digs for a season-high 14 points and freshman Olga Nushtayeva recorded eight kills and a game-high six blocks for 11 points.

In the fifth and final set of the Halloween night, Strausbaugh would lead a comeback charge  down 10-13. She followed a clutch block with two-straight kills for a three to one run. Laskelle would follow suit with a kill of her own and Nushtayeva added a block to tie at 14-points all. Despite the effort, KSU closed the match 17-15 after the kill-point by the Owl's Kristi Piedimonte.

Junior Jizzian Gesualdo had 45 assists, 12 digs and two blocks in the effort while freshman Nicole Pritchard and sophomore Rachel Miller had 10 and 18 digs, respectively.

Down 2-1 in the fourth-set of the match, the Dolphins would jump out to an early 11-3 set lead and never trailed powering to a 25-17, the largest disparity-set of the evening.

JU trailed early down 5-10 and would cut it close within one-point at 16-17 but were unable to overcome strong offense by the Owls and dropped the third stanza.

The second set was controlled by the Dolphins for most of the frame heading out to a 23-17, lead but it was not enough as the long battle ended after three ties starting at 25-25, KSU closed the door after a 3-0 set win.

In the first set, Laskelle was able to provide back-to-back kills for the set win, 26-24. JU battled back from 8-13 to tie it at 14 all, before providing a three-point cushion at 17-14. The set would see its eighth-tie before Laskelle closed it out with a kill-point. 

Jacksonville continues onward in its road swing with a conference match up with USC Upstate Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN3.com before returning home for a four-match homestand.

@JUVolleyball l #FearTheFin