KENNESAW, Ga. – Kelly Marcinek posted 16 kills and four service aces to lead the Kennesaw State University volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23) win over Northern Kentucky University in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Friday night.
 
Megan Wanstrath matched the 16-kill effort for the Norse, who fell to 10-5 overall and are still seeking their first A-Sun win at 0-2. NKU will get the chance at that first win tomorrow afternoon when the Norse take on USC Upstate for a 3 p.m. matinee. Links to live stats and ASun.TV coverage are available at NKUNorse.com.
 
Jenna Ruble and Tristen Simpson each chipped in 11 kills for the Norse while Jayden Julian (10 kills, 14 digs) and Taylor Snyder (52 assists, 15 digs) both notched double-doubles for the Norse. Mel Stewart posted a match-high 19 digs as well.
 
"Kennesaw did a nice job serving tonight and wound up with more reception errors than we usually have," said NKU head coach Liz Hart. "We had problems with our reception game and were playing out of system a lot tonight."
 
For Kennesaw State (8-8, 2-0 A-Sun), Cierra Royster added 14 kills and hit an astonishing .700 on the night, while Chade Martin and Ria Ridley each put up four blocks. Kristi Piedimonte directed the Owls' offense with 48 assists, adding six kills and eight digs to the effort as well.
 
"Kennesaw State was very scrappy tonight," said Hart of the opposition. "They worked hard to win those long rallies. We definitely saw some things we will have to correct for tomorrow's match at Upstate."
 
Both teams battled to a 10-10 score in the opening set before Kennesaw State took advantage of four attack errors from the Norse to post a 5-1 run and stretch out to a 15-11 lead. The Norse closed back to within one point at 16-15 but could not find the edge to take the lead.
 
In Set 2, the Norse jumped out to a 6-3 lead, which they extended to 16-11 in the first half of the set. However, Kennesaw State responded with a 10-3 run, taking a 21-19 lead that they would not relinquish. Marcinek posted five kills in the set for KSU in taking the 2-0 lead.
 
Back-to-back blocks from Ruble and Snyder closed out a 25-20 victory in Set 3 to keep the Norse in the match. NKU got a 5-0 run in the early part of the set to stake a 10-6 lead that would stand through the stanza.  Ruble got four kills and a pair of digs in the set.
 
Kennesaw State rallied back in the fourth and deciding frame, hitting .333 as a team in the 25-23 victory. After trailing throughout the Set, NKU rattled off a 6-2 rally late to take a 23-22 lead, but kills from Martin and Ridley for KSU set up match point for Marcinek, who served up an ace for the winner.
 
NKU will return to Regents Hall on Friday to begin the home half of the A-Sun schedule by hosting North Florida. It's "Styles for Smiles" night to benefit the Brighton Center; fans can bring a clothing donation and receive $1 off admission to the match. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.