Murray State
Stephen F. Austin
Racers go 2-1 at UAB Invitational; Ersel, Bunnage make all-tourney
9/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team placed second at the UAB Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., falling to team champion Stephen F. Austin 3-1 before beating host Alabama at Birmingham 3-0. Game scores against SFA were 30-19, 27-30, 30-19, 30-20, while the Racers beat the Blazers 30-27, 30-27, 30-25.
Senior setter Casandra Ersel and senior outside hitter Kimberly Bunnage made the all-tournament team from Murray State (3-3). Ersel had team-highs with 10.55 assists per game and 3.82 digs per game in the tournament, claiming double-doubles in each match, while Bunnage led the Racers with 4.64 kills and had 3.09 digs per game in the tournament.
Against UAB, sophomore outside hitter Allie Hunt had a co-match-high 13 kills to lead the offense. Bunnage added 11 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Katie Kemezys had nine, hitting .533 in the match.
Sophomore outside hitter Julie Lashley had a co-match-high three aces, chalking up seven aces in the tournament and bringing her season total to 13 (0.62 per game). Ersel had a match-high 16 digs, while Lashley had 10. Sophomore outside hitter Holly Jansen had a career-high four blocks, while Kemezys had three. Ersel handed out a match-high 33 assists in the match.
For UAB (0-7), Nicole Bowland had a co-match-high 13 kills, while Charli Lindley had three aces. Bowland had 11 digs, while Brianna Galvin had 10. Shaniquwa Cooper had five blocks, while Isabel Oquendo had four, and Jenna Link handed out 25 assists for the Blazers.
Against Stephen F. Austin, Bunnage connected for a co-match-high 21 kills and had 10 digs. Hunt had career-highs with 19 kills and 16 digs, claiming her first career double-double, and served up a team-high two aces.
Ersel, Jansen and Lashley each also had a co-team-high 16 digs, while Jansen had a team-high four blocks, with Kemezys rejecting three. Ersel handed out 37 assists for MSU.
For Stephen F. Austin (7-1), Lauren Stephens had 21 kills, while Laura Cramer had 15. JJ Jones served up six aces, while Brittany Burton and Jones had five blocks apiece. Stephanie Figgers had 20 digs, while Deborah Kirkham had 17, and Jones handed out 48 assists for the Ladyjacks.
Murray State has the next two weeks off to prepare for its Ohio Valley Conference season. The defending OVC tournament champion begins its league slate on Friday, Sept. 24, against OVC regular-season champion Morehead State. Opening serve is set for 7 p.m.
TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS: Career-highs set and other career highlights made by the Racers during the UAB Invitational include:
Bunnage: 59 attacks vs. SFA, two double-doubles (11 career), first all-tournament team honor as a Racer.
Ersel: 14 attacks vs. Alabama A&M, three double-doubles (six career), first all-tournament team honor as a collegiate player.
Hunt: 19 kills vs. SFA, 54 attacks vs. SFA, 16 digs vs. SFA, two blocks vs. SFA and UAB, two aces vs. SFA, double-double vs. SFA (first career).
Jansen: six kills vs. AAMU (career-high-tying), 19 attacks vs. UAB, 16 digs vs. SFA, four blocks vs. SFA and UAB, one aces vs. SFA and UAB.
Kemezys: eight digs vs. AAMU and SFA, three solo blocks vs. AAMU.
Lashley: 13 digs vs. SFA, four aces vs. AAMU.
