Murray State
Southeast Missouri State
Racers give SEMO a tight battle, but Otahks hold on for 3-0 win
10/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team gve its most complete battle since reconstructing its lineup, but just couldn't push past visiting Southeast Missouri State in a 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference loss tonight. Game scores were 33-31, 30-27, 31-29.
The Racers (4-12, 1-9 OVC) trailed 8-2 in the first game, but rallied to tie the score at 18-18. MSU led 28-26, but SEMO (6-14, 5-5 OVC) ran off three straight points to take a 29-28 lead. A kill by senior outside hitter Kimberly Bunnage tied the score at 29-29. The score seesawed from there, with the Otahkians taking a one-point lead and the Racers tying it until SEMO's Jill Miller smacked the game-winner to give SEMO a 33-31 win.
In Game 2, MSU trailed 10-5 but came back to take a 15-13 lead on the strength of three aces by Bunnage, who had four aces in the game. SEMO took a 19-16 lead, but the Racers rallied for a 25-21 lead. The Otahkians scored the next three points and held on for the 30-27 win.
In Game 3, MSU led 17-12, but Southeast Missouri State was bale to bring it back and tie the game at 22-22. Trailing 27-25, Murray State came back, scoring the next four points at the net, featuring blocks by sophomore outside hitter Allie Hunt, sophomore middle blocker Katie Kemezys, senior outside hitter Danielle Sutterer and sophomore outside hitter Holly Jansen, who also had a kill to give MSU a 28-27 lead. An ace by Kemezys brought the Racers to game point at 29-27. However, SEMO scored the next four points for the 31-29 win.
"This was the lecture we had after yesterday's game, to get out there and play like it's the last game," said MSU head coach David Schwepker. "Yesterday (against Eastern Illinois), we played hard in the first game, and after that, we didn't quite do it. Today, every game, we got out there and played our best. We gave a tremendous effort."
Murray State was led by Kemezys, who had 13 kills. Bunnage and Hunt had 11 kills apiece. Sutterer, Kemezys and Hunt had a team-high four blocks each, while Bunnage served up five aces. Senior setter Casandra Ersel handed out 37 assists.
On defense, sophomore libero Julie Lashley repelled 19 digs, while Ersel had 13 and Bunnage and Hunt had 11 apiece.
For SEMO, Jessica Koeper had 17 kills, while Brittany Hastings had 13 and Jill Miller had 12. Brenda Schlader had a match-high five blocks, while Jamie Baumstark and Jessica Wilfong had three each.
Lauren Scannel had a team-high 15 digs, while Baumstark had 14 and Miller and Koeper had 10 apiece. Baumstark had a match-high 44 assists.
Murray State takes a leave from the OVC schedule to visit regional rival Southern Illinois on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
