Kennesaw, Ga. ? The Stetson volleyball team (8-15, 3-7 Atlantic Sun) put an end to its seven-match losing streak Saturday afternoon at Kennesaw State by outlasting the host Owls in a tightly contested five-game conference match. Game scores were 24-30, 30-23, 33-31, 30-32 and 15-9.
The Hatters never had the lead in Game 1 and the chances of a victory seemed bleak when they found themselves behind 7-3 in Game 2. However, Stetson would then go on a 16-4 run to take a comfortable lead and cruise to a 30-23 win in Game 2.
The third game was a close affair throughout and seemed to be in Stetson's back pocket after a kill from senior outside hitter Beth Slabaugh (Dearborn, Mich.) extended the lead to 21-16. However, Kennesaw State would rally back to go ahead 28-27 and make the rest of the game a see-saw battle. Each team served for game point once (Stetson at 30-29 and KSU at 31-30) but neither team could make it happen until Stetson's rally from down game point to a 33-31 win with three straight points, punctuated by kills from senior middle blocker Gina Iacona (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River HS) and junior outside hitter Rebecca Orzechowicz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS).
The Hatters appeared to have Game 4 and, by extension, the match in hand when they scored three straight points to break a 26-26 deadlock and serve for the match at 29-26. Once again, however, the Owls would not go quietly, scoring three in a row to tie it and then fending off another match point at 30-29. Kennesaw State then pulled ahead for good and won the game 32-30 to send the match to a decisive fifth game.
In the end, Stetson saved its best for last with a dominating 15-9 win in the finale, making just one attack error and hitting .353. Iacona led the way with five kills and a block assist in Game 5 as the Hatters kept their slim postseason hopes alive with the win. Senior setter Karla Readshaw (Huntington Beach, Calif.) had an outstanding match setting up the Hatter offense with 43 assists, 11 digs and nine kills, finishing just one kill shy of her second triple-double. Iacona had a career-high 18 kills while hitting .361 while Orzechowicz reached double-figures in kills (14) and digs (12) for the 13th time this season. Senior Rachel Miller (Longwood, Fla./Orangewood Christian HS) led all players in the match with 22 digs.
Lindsey Plotner had 19 kills and 18 digs to lead three Owls notching double-doubles. Sabrita Gulley had 16 kills and 14 digs while Jenny Black added 18 kills and 12 digs. Setter Tara Dillon recorded 18 digs to go with a match-high 63 assists.
The Hatters return home on Tuesday, Oct. 30 for a non-conference matchup with Volusia County rival Bethune-Cookman. First serve at the Edmunds Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
