Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Kentucky
Volleyball Clinches OVC Tournament Berth
11/2/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team hit .338, making only 12 errors in 142 attacks in its 3-0 shutout win at Eastern Kentucky tonight. Game scores were 30-23, 30-24, 32-30. That win, coupled with a Tennessee Tech loss tonight, clinched a Racer berth into the six-team OVC Championship Tournament. The Racers can finish no lower than sixth place in the OVC standings. The Racers moved into second place after Jacksonville State lost at Southeast Missouri State tonight.
In Game 1, Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Murray State ran off seven of the next nine points to take a 9-8 lead behind the serving of junior outside hitter Alison Mugler and freshman middle hitter Sara Hayden. The Colonels scored three straight points behind the service of Kate Hendle, then exchanged sideouts before the Racers (15-11, 12-4 OVC) notched five straight points behind the service of sophomore setter Cassie Chesney to take a 16-12 lead. EKU (4-22, 3-13 OVC) was able to keep pace, trailing 23-20 before MSU ran off six of the next seven points to get to game point at 29-21 behind the service of junior libero Heather Norris and senior middle hitter Tara DeMage. The Colonels scored a point before Hayden punctuated the game with a kill to give MSU a 30-23 win.
In the second game,the Racers bolted out to a 13-3 lead, scoring eight straight points behind the serving of Mugler en route to the 30-24 Game 2 win.
In Game 3, MSU got out to a 12-6 leadbut the Colonels were able to whittle it down to a 19-19 tie. The teams battled from that point, with Eastern Kentucky taking a 29-28 lead. A kill from DeMage tied the game at 29-29, but EKU's Amanda Fago scored a kill to give the Colonels a 30-29 lead. Freshman outside hitter Becca Lamb landed a kill to knot the game at 30-30, and an EKU error and a block by Hayden gave MSU the game 32-30 and the match, three games to none.
"We played well in the first two games, and we passed well in the third game," said MSU head coach David Schwepker. "Eastern Kentucky played strong in the third game; they only made six errors. Our defense really helped us stay in that game."
Murray State was led by DeMage, who had 14 kills and hit .444, with only two errors in 27 attacks. Hayden had 13 kills, hitting .480, with only one error in 25 attacks, while junior outside hitter Alyssa Groves had 12 kills and hit .300, with three errors in 30 attacks, and Mugler had 11 kills, hitting .385 with one error in 26 attacks.
On defense, Mugler had 15 digs, while DeMage had 13 digs, Chesney had 12, and Groves and Norris each had 11 digs. Chesney handed out a match-high 51 assists for the Racers.
Eastern Kentucky was led by Fago and Amanda Wilson, with 17 kills each. Bridget Mustard added 10 kills for EKU. Brittany Nobilio had 26 digs, while Hendle had 12, and Wilson and Mustard each had three blocks, while Hendle had 46 assists.
Murray State will now take on OVC leader Morehead State on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT. Live Stats for that match are available through the link at the volleyball schedule page at GoRacers.com.
AROUND THE OVC
OVC leader Morehead State (19-9, 13-3 OVC) beat UT Martin (10-18, 4-12 OVC) tonight in Morehead, while fourth-place Southeast Missouri (17-11, 12-5 OVC) got past third-place Jacksonville State (15-9, 12-5 OVC). Sixth-place Samford (14-12, 9-8 OVC) kept its post-season tournament hopes alive with a 3-0 win at Eastern Illinois (11-15, 4-13 OVC), while fifth-place Tennessee State (14-13, 12-6 OVC) eked past Tennessee Tech (14-14, 8-9), winning 20-18 in the fifth game of their match. Austin Peay 8-21, 3-14 OVC) was idle tonight.
Tomorrow, the Racers visit first-place Morehead State, while UT Martin travels to Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay goes to Tennessee Tech, Samford visits Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State goes to Eastern Illinois. Tennessee State is idle.
