Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Tennessee State
Volleyball Battles TSU In 3-1 Loss
9/30/2006 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team battled host Tennessee State in every game, with three of the four games going to extra points and the other game going to the max in a 30-point game, but the Racers could not push past the Lady Tigers, falling 34-32, 29-31, 30-28, 33-31.
The loss snaps MSU's win streak at five matches. Murray State has won 10 of its last 12 matches and closes out the month of September with a school-record 11-3 mark.
In the first game, Murray State (11-3, 3-1 OVC) jumped out to a 15-12 lead, but Tennessee State (10-8, 3-1 OVC) came back, tying the game at 16-16. MSU took a 21-19 lead, but TSU scored four straight points to take a 23-21 lead of its own. The Racers led 30-29, but a kill by TSU's Collese Dornan knotted it at 30-30. The Lady Tigers took a 31-30 lead, but the teams exchanged sideouts until a kill by TSU's Meesha Jackson settled the game, 34-32.
In the second game, Murray State was on the verge of losing, trailing 29-25, but rallied to run off six straight points to take Game 2 31-29.
In the third game, a kill by junior Tarra DeMage got Murray State within 11-10, but Tennessee State ran off four straight points to take a 15-10 lead. The Lady Tigers expanded that lead to 20-12 before the Racers started chipping away at that lead, tying the game at 26-26. TSU scored back-to-back points before a kill by senior Katie Kemezys brought MSU to within 28-27. A kill by TSU's Kelly Davis got Tennessee State to game point, 29-27, but another Kemezys kill got MSU to within 29-28 before Davis capped the game, 30-28.
TSU's net defense was the key to the match, as the Lady Tigers turned back 21 blocks.
In the fourth game, Murray State led 15-13 before running off five points behind the serving of sophomore Alyssa Groves to vault to a 20-13 lead. Tennessee State chipped away at the lead and, with the Racers leading 27-24, scored five straight points to gat to match point, 29-27. Kills by DeMage and sophomore Alison Mugler tied the game at 29-29, but Jackson got the Lady Tigers back to match point, 30-29. Kemezys tied the game at 30-30, and Jackson put TSU ahead again, 31-30. Kemezys again tied the game, but Davis scored for TSU before an ace by Endia Oliver sealed the match.
Murray State was led by Kemezys, who had 16 kills and a team-high four blocks to go with an attack percentage of .308. Senior Holly Jansen added 15 kills, while Mugler had 14, Groves had 12 and DeMage had 11. Sophomore Heather Norris repelled a match-high 29 digs, while DeMage had 18, freshman Cassie Chesney had 17, Mugler had 15, Groves had 14 and senior Allie Hunt had 11. Chesney handed out 49 assists, while DeMage served up two aces for the Racers.
Tennessee State was paced by Jackson's 18 kills to go with nine blocks. Davis also had 18 kills to go with 17 digs and six blocks, while Erika Godbolt had 13 kills, 16 digs and six blocks. Tiana Maua had 11 kills, 54 assists and 15 digs to claim a triple-double, and had a .455 attack percentage and three aces. Kelley Smith had a match-high 11 blocks.
Murray State opens its home schedule this week, hosting OVC co-leader Morehead State on Friday at 7 p.m., then Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at 2 p.m. Racer matches are played in Racer Arena, and admission is free.
