Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
San Jose State
Volleyball Battles San Jose State To 3-1 Loss
9/1/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Freshman middle hitter Sara Hayden had a team-high 16 kills and junior outside hitter Alison Mugler and sophomore setter Cassie Chesney each notched double-doubles, but it wasn't enough, as Murray State fell to San Jose 3-1 in the ASU/Bancorp South Classic in Jonesboro, Ark. Game scores were 30-18, 21-30, 30-24, 30-28.
The Racers (1-4) scored the first two points of the match, but San Jose State (4-1) came roaring back, taking an early 7-2 lead. The Racers were able to pull as close as 11-10 and later got to within 15-13, but the Spartans pushed five unanswered points and held MSU at bay for the 30-18 Game 1 win.
In the second game, the teams battled early, with 10 ties in the game. Murray State trailed 17-16 before scoring 12 of the next 14 points to take a 28-19 lead. A kill by Hayden brought the Racers to game point at 29-20, and another kill by junior outside hitter Alyssa Groves gave MSU the game, 30-21. MSU hit .342 in that game, with 17 kills and only four errors in 38 attacks, while SJSU hit .106.
San Jose State led Game 3 throughout most of the game, taking the lead at 4-3 and not looking back. Murray State kept it close, but the Spartans prevailed 30-24. In the fourth game, Murray State scored the first three points and battled SJSU tooth-and-nail in a game that featured 12 ties and five lead changes. It was a race to the wire, with MSU getting within a point, then San Jose State scoring again. The Racers got within 29-28 near the end, but a kill by SJSU's Nia Freeman iced the game at 30-28, giving the Spartans the 3-1 match win.
Murray State was led by Hayden, who had 16 kills in 43 attacks. Mugler added 15 kills and 11 digs for the Racers for her second double-double of the season.
Chesney also notched her second double-double of the season, handing out 40 assists to go with 12 digs. She also served up a match-high three aces. Junior libero Heather Norris repelled a match-high 20 digs, while senior middle hitter Tara DeMage had 11 digs. Groves finished with eight kills, while freshman outside hitter Becca Lamb chipped in five. Senior setter/libero Ashley Meagher had four digs for MSU.
For San Jose State, Jennifer Senftleben had 22 kills and 12 digs, while Colleen Burke had 13 kills and Keri Anglin had 11. Burke had an attack percentage of .619, with no errors in 21 attacks, while Anglin hit .588, with one error in 17 attacks. Kristal Tsukano had a team-high 16 digs, while Niki Clement had 14 and Emily Burke had 10. Emily Burke handed out 48 assists, while Anglin had six blocks and Clement had four.
Murray State will conclude play in the ASU/Bancorp South Classic against Northwestern State this afternoon (Saturday) at 4:30 p.m.
