Thursday, November 17
Nashville, Tenn.
1 P.M.
Jacksonville State University
vs
Kennesaw State
Volleyball Opens ASUN Championship Thursday Versus KSU
11/16/2022 10:28:00 AM | Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State volleyball (24-5, 12-4) is prepared to begin postseason play later this week in the ASUN Volleyball Championship. The Gamecocks have the no. three seed in that tournament, which will be held at Lipscomb's Allen Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
"I like the way we're playing right now, and we're excited for the tournament to start Thursday," JSU head coach Todd Garvey said. "This is the best the ASUN has ever been for volleyball and it's one of the better conferences around. It should make for an exciting tournament."
Jax State will face a familiar foe in the tourney's opening round on Thursday afternoon. Kennesaw State, the only team to defeat Garvey's squad in fewer than five sets all season, will duke it out with JSU in Tennessee's capital city. Thursday's clash will have a first-serve at 1 p.m.
KSU swept Jacksonville State twice in one weekend earlier this season. The Owls downed the Gamecocks in straight sets at The Pete on Oct. 7 before sweeping them again two days later in Cobb County, Ga. At the time Kennesaw State had the best record in the ASUN Conference, but a rough end to October and start of November saw KSU lose four in a row and five of six straight games before holding off Central Arkansas in five sets on Sunday afternoon. JSU, on the other hand, enters the tournament winners of their last five- four of which came via a sweep.
This week's championship tournament presents Jax State with an opportunity to exact some revenge on more than just the Owls. JSU made a deep run in the ASUN Tournament last season- their first year back in the league after an 18-year stint in the Ohio Valley Conference- before falling to FGCU in the title match. If the Gamecocks were to get past Kennesaw State, they would play the winner of FGCU-North Florida at 4 p.m. Friday in the ASUN Semifinals.
Jacksonville State is searching for their 11th volleyball conference championship in program history. Numerous members of the team were on the roster during the 2019 and (spring) 2021 regular season championships, but the elusive tournament title has been hard to come by for Garvey's program. They will look to end a 13-year NCAA Tournament drought by claiming the tourney crown this week at Allen Arena.
Thursday's opening round of the ASUN Volleyball Championship will be broadcast on ESPN+. Links to watch or follow along with live stats will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com. Additionally, score updates will be posted on JSU Volleyball's Twitter account (@JSUGamecockVB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, be sure to follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Volleyball), Twitter, and Instagram (@JSUGamecockVB) accounts.
STAT WATCH
As the regular season came to a close, several Gamecocks found themselves atop the conference standings in statistical categories. Katie Montgomery finished with a career-best .371 hitting percentage, a mark that was the best in the ASUN Conference this year. With a 24-kill outing on Sunday at Austin Peay, Lena Kindermann moved into first place in total kills (390). Kylee Quigley maintained her first-place spot in aces (45) and aces per set (0.45) while Claire Ochs ended up second in total assists (1116) and third in assists per set (10.83).
Head coach Todd Garvey is 5-4 in conference tournament matches at JSU. The Gamecocks have not lost a first-round matchup since his hiring in 2018.
Lena Kindermann will join a tie amongst the top of the JSU record books in Thursday's match. The fifth-year outside hitter will play in her 142nd match as a Gamecock, tying the mark set by Kaylie Milton last season. She enters with 499 sets played in her collegiate career. Kindermann has been part of all 103 of JSU's wins under Garvey.
"I like the way we're playing right now, and we're excited for the tournament to start Thursday," JSU head coach Todd Garvey said. "This is the best the ASUN has ever been for volleyball and it's one of the better conferences around. It should make for an exciting tournament."
Jax State will face a familiar foe in the tourney's opening round on Thursday afternoon. Kennesaw State, the only team to defeat Garvey's squad in fewer than five sets all season, will duke it out with JSU in Tennessee's capital city. Thursday's clash will have a first-serve at 1 p.m.
KSU swept Jacksonville State twice in one weekend earlier this season. The Owls downed the Gamecocks in straight sets at The Pete on Oct. 7 before sweeping them again two days later in Cobb County, Ga. At the time Kennesaw State had the best record in the ASUN Conference, but a rough end to October and start of November saw KSU lose four in a row and five of six straight games before holding off Central Arkansas in five sets on Sunday afternoon. JSU, on the other hand, enters the tournament winners of their last five- four of which came via a sweep.
This week's championship tournament presents Jax State with an opportunity to exact some revenge on more than just the Owls. JSU made a deep run in the ASUN Tournament last season- their first year back in the league after an 18-year stint in the Ohio Valley Conference- before falling to FGCU in the title match. If the Gamecocks were to get past Kennesaw State, they would play the winner of FGCU-North Florida at 4 p.m. Friday in the ASUN Semifinals.
Jacksonville State is searching for their 11th volleyball conference championship in program history. Numerous members of the team were on the roster during the 2019 and (spring) 2021 regular season championships, but the elusive tournament title has been hard to come by for Garvey's program. They will look to end a 13-year NCAA Tournament drought by claiming the tourney crown this week at Allen Arena.
Thursday's opening round of the ASUN Volleyball Championship will be broadcast on ESPN+. Links to watch or follow along with live stats will be provided at JSUGamecockSports.com. Additionally, score updates will be posted on JSU Volleyball's Twitter account (@JSUGamecockVB).
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, be sure to follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Volleyball), Twitter, and Instagram (@JSUGamecockVB) accounts.
STAT WATCH
As the regular season came to a close, several Gamecocks found themselves atop the conference standings in statistical categories. Katie Montgomery finished with a career-best .371 hitting percentage, a mark that was the best in the ASUN Conference this year. With a 24-kill outing on Sunday at Austin Peay, Lena Kindermann moved into first place in total kills (390). Kylee Quigley maintained her first-place spot in aces (45) and aces per set (0.45) while Claire Ochs ended up second in total assists (1116) and third in assists per set (10.83).
Head coach Todd Garvey is 5-4 in conference tournament matches at JSU. The Gamecocks have not lost a first-round matchup since his hiring in 2018.
Lena Kindermann will join a tie amongst the top of the JSU record books in Thursday's match. The fifth-year outside hitter will play in her 142nd match as a Gamecock, tying the mark set by Kaylie Milton last season. She enters with 499 sets played in her collegiate career. Kindermann has been part of all 103 of JSU's wins under Garvey.
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
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OH
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