Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Michigan
Racers fall in close season-opener at Michigan, 3-0; Louisville is next
9/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team fought host Michigan a tight battle in its season-opener in the Michigan/Pepsi Classic tonight, but the Wolverines were able to hold on long enough to eke out enough points to win, 30-24, 30-28, 30-27.
The Racers (0-1) face No. 16 Louisville (1-3) tomorrow (Saturday) at 3:30 p.m. CT before closing out the tournament against No. 29 Texas A&M (4-0) on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT. Texas A&M beat Louisville 3-1 in the tournament's opening match this afternoon.
MSU won the opening point against Michigan (2-2) and pushed out to a 6-3 lead, but the Wolverines clipped off four straight points to take a 7-6 lead. The Racers closed to within three points late in the game at 27-24, but Michigan was able to close the first game 30-24.
In the second game, Murray State again found a lead, getting out as far as 24-20 before the Wolverines ticked off four points to tie the game at 24-24. MSU took a 27-25 lead, but UM again came back, as the Racers tied the game at 28-28 before Michigan scored the next two points for the Game 2 win, 30-28.
In Game 3, neither team got out to more than a two-point lead until MSU closed its deficit to 17-16 on a kill by freshman outside hitter Lilli Zhan and Michigan reeled off two more points to take a 19-16 lead. The Racers then scored four of the next five points to tie the game at 20-20.
The teams tied the score at 21, 22, 23 and 24 before Zhan tied the game at 25-25 with a kill. Strong seesaw volleys ended in Wolverine points, as Michigan scored five of the next seven points to win Game 3, 30-27.
Murray State was led by sophomore middle blocker Abbi Gui, who had 13 kills and a co-team-high four blocks. Zhan added nine kills, while sophomore outside hitter Paige Sun and sophomore setter Nikki Wong each had eight kills.
Sun also had four blocks, while junior middle blocker Danielle Sutterer had three. Wong handed out 26 assists, while junior defensive specialist Casandra Ersel served up two aces for the Racers. Sun led the MSU defense with 10 digs.
