Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Arkansas State
Volleyball Shuts Out Arkansas State 3-0
8/31/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Four Racers had a co-match-high 10 kills apiece, and senior middle hitter Tara Demage had her third double-double in four matches as the Murray State volleyball team beat tournament host Arkansas State 3-0 in the ASU/Bacnorp South Classic. Game scores were 30-28, 30-17, 30-19.
In the first game, Arkansas State took a 7-6 lead, but the Racers went on an 8-3 run to take a 14-10 lead. The Lady Indians then went on a 7-3 run of their own to knot the game at 17-17. The score swung back and forth, with Murray State getting out to a 22-20 lead, but ASU responding and going ahead 25-24. MSU scored three straight points on a kill by freshman middle hitter Sara Hayden, an ace by DeMage and an ASU error to take a 27-24 lead, but Arkansas State tallied four straight to go ahead 28-27. A kill by junior outside hitter Alyssa Groves, an ASU error and a kill by DeMage gave the Racers the first game, 30-28.
In the second game, Murray State (1-3) surged out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back, expanding to a 22-9 lead before winning the game 30-17. In the third game, the Lady Indians jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, but the Racers used an 11-3 run to take the 12-8 lead and kept ASU at arm's length the rest of the way, winning the match with a 30-19 Game 3 win.
Murray State was led on offense by DeMage, Groves, Hayden and freshman outside hitter Becca Lamb, who had 10 kills apiece. Lamb had an attack percentage of .400, with only two errors in 20 attacks. Junior outside hitter Alison Mugler also hit well, forging a .333 percentage with nine kills and two errors in 21 attacks.
As a team, Murray State had an attack percentage of .281 for the match, while Arkansas State hit .085. In Game 2, the Racers hit .545 to ASU's .098 and had a sideout percentage of 92 percent, getting a sideout in 13 of the 14 opportunities in that game.
DeMage and sophomore setter Cassie Chesney each had double-doubles, as DeMage had 11 digs to go with her 10 kills, and Chesney had a match-high 39 assists to go with 11 digs. Junior libero Heather Norris had a match-high 15 digs, while DeMage had a match-high three aces for MSU. Chesney added two aces, and senior setter/libero Ashley Meagher served up an ace for the Racers.
For Arkansas State (0-4), Christin Baker had a team-high 10 kills and hit .348, with two errors in 23 attacks. Erin Neeley had 14 digs, while Katie Peil had 27 assists. Baker also had a match-high four blocks, while Robin Aaron had three.
Murray State continues play in the ASU/Bancorp South Classic tomorrow (Saturday), when the Racers face San Jose State (3-1) at 1:30 p.m. MSU will also play Northwestern State (0-1) at 4:30 p.m.
