Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Morehead State
Volleyball Falls At Morehead State
11/3/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team battled with host Morehead State in a match that featured 32 ties, but the homestanding Lady Eagles were able to persevere, 3-1. Game scores were 30-20, 28-30, 30-28, 30-27.
With 29 digs today, junior libero Heather Norris moved into 12th place on the Ohio Valley Conference career digs list with a career total of 1,668. She passed Erica Gerth of Eastern Illinois, who had 1,666 digs, and trails No. 11 Shelly Rocke of Morehead State, by five. Others well within reach are No. 10, Dayle Hamontree of Morehead State, who finished her career with 1,683 digs, and No. 9 Cori Brown of Austin Peay, who tallied 1,686 digs.
In Game 1, Murray State (15-12, 12-5 OVC) took a 15-12 lead, but saw that lead disintegrate, as Morehead State (20-9, 14-3 OVC) scored nine straight points behind the service of Kirstie Brangers to take a 21-15 lead. That run was part of a stretch where the Lady Eagles scored 13 out of 14 points en route to the 30-20 first-game win.
In the second game, the Racers vaulted out to a 10-5 lead with three-point runs behind the serving of Norris and freshman middle hitter Sara Hayden. Morehead State sprang back, tying the game at 17-17. Behind the serving of junior outside hitter Alyssa Groves and sophomore setter Cassie Chesney, Murray State scored seven of the next eight points, taking a 24-18 lead. The Lady Eagles brought it back behind the serving of Kristina Schoo to tie the game at 25-25. With the game tied at 28-28, freshman outside hitter Becca Lamb nailed a kill to bring the Racers to game point, then a Morehead State error gave Murray State the game, 30-28.
In Game 3, Murray State got out to a 13-9 lead before Morehead State started chipping away. Behind the serving of Brangers and Kaitlin Craven, the Lady Eagles tied the game at 15-15. The Racers were able to get a 23-20 lead, but Morehead State scored four straight points behind the serving of Craven to take a 26-25 lead, and was able to hold on down the stretch, winning 30-28.
In Game 4, Murray State had an 8-6 lead before Morehead State took off, scoring five straight points behind the serving of Katelyn Barbour, then three more behind Ashley Doscher to forge a 14-9 lead. Trailing 25-19, the Racers were able to bounce back, scoring four straight points behind the serving of junior outside hitter Alison Mugler to close to within 25-23. The Lady Eagles scored two points to take a 27-23 lead, but three straight points behind Hayden brought Murray State to within 27-26. Morehead State was able to keep its lead, winning Game 4 30-27 and taking the match, three games to one.
"Morehead played exceptionally well," said Murray State head coach David Schwepker. "The difference was that they didn't make any dumb errors, and when you play a team like that and they play that well, this is what happens. We played well, but this will be a lesson for us as to how to run our practices to get ready for the OVC Tournament."
This match marked the first time all season that the Racers hit .200 or better and lost, hitting .212 today. In all of their previous wins, they hit .200 or better, while in all of Murray State's losses, the team hit below .200.
Murray State was led by senior middle hitter Tara DeMage, who had 17 kills and hit .444 for her second straight match, making only one error in 36 attacks today. Lamb had 15 kills, while Groves had 14 and Hayden had 10. Norris repelled a match-high 29 digs, while Mugler had 17, Chesney and Groves had 11 each and DeMage had 10. Chesney handed out 56 assists for the Racers.
Morehead State was led by Doscher's 20 kills. Craven added 18, while Erin Peak had 15, hitting .480 with only three errors in 25 attacks, and Kelsey Cronin had 10. Schoo had 24 digs, while Barbour had 17 and Brangers had 12, and Amber Campbell had seven blocks, while Cronin, Doscher and Peak each had four. Barbour had 65 assists, while Craven and Schoo each served up three aces.
Murray State will close out the regular season with three home matches next week in Racer Arena. The Racers host Eastern Illinois on Tuesday at 7 p.m., then will celebrate Parents Night with a Friday match against Tennessee State at 7 p.m. Murray State closes out its regular-season schedule against Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 2 p.m., when the Racers will honor its outgoing senior, Tara Demage. Admission for all Racer matches is free.
