Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Indiana
Racers fall to host Indiana in season-opening match
9/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team held leads of at least five points in each of the first two games of its match against Indiana in the IU Invitational tonight, but was unable to hold those leads down the stretch, as the homestanding Hoosiers won the match 3-0. Game scores were 32-30, 30-28, 30-18.
In the first game, the Racers had 10 kills in their first 14 swings, but got out to a scant 20-15 lead. Indiana (2-0) was able to come back, tying the game at 23-23. The score seesawed until IU took its first lead at 27-26. Indiana was able to hold on and forge ahead for the 32-30 win.
In the second game, MSU ceded the first point before running off four straight. IU was able to tie the game at 6-6, but Murray State scored eight of the next 11 points to take a 14-9 lead. After the Racers took a 15-10 lead, the Hoosiers came right back, scoring six unanswered points to take a 16-15 lead. MSU was able to keep Indiana within two points and retook the lead at 25-24 on an IU attack error, pushing out to a 26-24 lead on another Hoosier mistake.
Indiana ran off four straight points to take a 28-26 lead, but a service error kept Murray State close at 28-27. The Racers stayed close at 29-28, but were unable to keep IU from that game point, falling 30-28.
In the third game, Indiana made only three attack errors, while Murray State made 11 en route to the 30-18 IU game win, giving the match to the Hoosiers.
Murray State was led by 14 kills from junior outside hitter Paige Sun. Junior setter Nikki Wang added 11 kills, while senior outside hitter Kimberly Bunnage had 10.
Sun and senior libero Casandra Ersel led the Racer defense with 11 digs apiece, while sophomore middle blocker Katie Kemezys had a team-high three blocks. Wang handed out 30 assists for MSU, while Sun and sophomore outside hitter Julie Lashley served up an ace each.
Indiana was paced by 15 kills from Christina Archibald, while Katie Pollom added 12. Lindsay Cochrane had 14 digs for the Hoosiers, while Archibald and Pollom had two aces apiece. Mandy Eberle had eight blocks for IU, while Archibald had six and Pollom had five.
Murray State faces Pac-10 member Oregon State tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m., then will take on regional rival Saint Louis at 4:30 p.m. Saint Louis (2-0) got past OSU (0-1) in the tournament's opening match, 3-2.
