Box Score
Lakeland, Fla.— Kentucky State University volleyball concluded its season with another historic run to the NCAA Championship Tournament by falling in short in the opening round to No. 1 seeded Florida Southern College on Thursday night at the Jenkins Field House.

"Tonight, was a tough loss, but we played hard," said head coach Katrina English. "We had a great overall season, and our future looks very promising."

The Thorobrettes (26-13) came within one win of tying the all-time wins mark in one season with the loss to No. 21 nationally ranked FSC. KSU is now 0-5 all-time in the NCAA championship tournament and 0-13 against teams from the Sunshine State Conference. The Mocs (26-6) have now won 19 straight matches and play No. 4 seeded and nationally ranked No. 22 Saint Leo on Friday.

KSU hung with the nationally ranked Mocs throughout the evening, with only its largest deficit of just seven points. Junior middle blocker Landri Greathouse and freshman outside hitter Robin Poole were kept in check but provided offensive pressure with seven kills apiece.

Sophomore setter Hannah Smyers kept up her usual play with a team-high 20 assists on the night, while only committing one error. Freshman libero Gabrielle Gracia played well alongside, capitalizing off her Libero of the Tournament award a week ago in the SIAC Championship Tournament, accounting for a team-high 12 digs.

KSU will not graduate a single player from the tournament squad and will look to return all starters in the 2018 season.