Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Volleyball Falls At Tech 3-1
10/21/2006 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team fell at Tennessee Tech 3-1 this afternoon in Ohio Valley Conference play. Game scores were 30-20, 26-30, 30-26, 30-28.
Murray State (16-4, 8-2 OVC) trailed in Game 1 10-5, but fought back to get to within 13-12, then tied it at 16-16. The Tech offense surged, scoring the last nine points en route to the 30-20 win.
In the second game, the Racers jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but the Golden Eagles (8-16, 5-5 OVC) pushed past to a 5-4 lead. Murray State regained the lead at 7-5, then surged to an 11-6 lead behind the serving of senior Allie Hunt. Tennessee Tech got back to within 12-10 behind the serving of Fran Flatt, then tied the game at 13-13. MSU pushed out to a 17-14 lead and kept TTU at arm's length for the 30-26 win.
In Game 3, Murray State vaulted out to a 7-2 lead, but Tennessee Tech came back to cut the deficit to 10-8, then tied the game at 11-11. The Racers pushed out to a 17-14 lead, but the Golden Eagles pushed back to tie the game at 17-17. TTU took a 27-24 lead, but closed to within 27-26, but Tech closed out the game at 30-26 and lead the match two games to one.
In Game 4, Tennessee Tech jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Murray State inched back, taking a 13-12 lead. With the game tied at 14-14, the Racers scored two points behind the serving of Hunt, but the Golden Eagles battled back to take a 19-18 lead. MSU fought back to take a 23-21 lead, but Tech responded, taking a 24-23 lead. A kill from junior Tara DeMage gave MSU the lead, 24-23, but Tech kept up the pressure, retaking the lead at 25-24 and increasing it to 28-24. A kill from senior Katie Kemezys gave MSU a sideout, and the Racers scored three straight points behind sophomore Alison Mugler to tie the game at 28-28.Tennessee Tech was able to score the last two points to win the game and the match.
Murray State was led by Kemezys, who had a match-high 21 kills and hit .302, with only five errors in 53 attacks. Kemezys also had a co-match-high four blocks. Senior Holly Jansen added 16 kills, while Mugler had 13 kills and DeMage had 10.
Sophomore Heather Norris repelled 33 digs and served up two aces for the Racers, while freshman Cassie Chesney handed out a match-high 61 assists. Mugler and DeMage had 18 digs each, while Chesney and sophomore Alyssa Groves had 16 apiece.
Tennessee Tech was paced by 20 kills from Caitlin Bullock, who hit .317, with seven errors in 41 attacks. Erin Lynn added 14 kills, hitting .367 with three errors in 30 attacks, while Amanda Lindgren had 13 kills. Kapy Lang hit .615, with eight kills and no errors in 13 attacks.
Katie Kenline had 35 digs in the match, while Lang had 17 and Lindgren and Teresa Craig had 14 apiece. Lindgren and Jessica Asplund had four blocks each, while Craig served up three aces and Lang handed out 56 assists.
"We're not taking our time and doing the right things that got us this far," said MSU head coach David Schwepker. "We aren't doing all the little things that we are supposed to do right. Give credit to Tennessee Tech. They kept the pressure up and took advantage of everything and won the match, but the little things are the reason we've had success. It's not about hitting; it's all the other stuff."
Murray State closes out this four-match road swing this weekend, as the Racers venture into "Death Valley." MSU visits Eastern Kentucky on Friday at 6 p.m. CT, then takes on Morehead State on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
