Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Illinois
Racers snap losing streak with 3-0 victory over Eastern Illinois
9/23/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Racers (4-7, 1-1 OVC) used strong overall play, including key advantages in the hitting and blocking columns to earn their first OVC win of the 2008 campaign.
“I think that everyone played much calmer and with a lot of confidence tonight,” said head coach David Schwepker. “We have been practicing a lot more with the block all week to give the other team's hitters a tougher time and to make our hitters work around a block better.”
MSU was led by sophomore Sara Hayden, who tallied 10 kills and a .450 (10k-1e-20ta) hitting percentage. Freshmen Ashley Nenninger all added eight kills. Nenninger also garnered a career-high five blocks and Guo netted four.
The opening set started out strong for both teams, with no team leading by more than two points until, with the set tied at seven, the Racers started a 3-0 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Panthers quickly responded and got back within one, but MSU held on to the advantage. The teams then battled back and forth until the Racers started an 8-1 run, with the scoreboard reading 13-12 in favor of MSU, on a kill from sophomore Becca Lamb to push the lead to eight (21-13). The squads then traded serves the rest of the set, but the Racers earned the 25-17 victory on a service ace by freshman Jade Guo.
Like the previous two sets, the third set was close at the beginning with several long rallies and tie scores. The Racers then took an 8-5 advantage that was then brought to a 9-9 tie by the Panthers with a 4-1 run. The teams then traded the next 14 serves forcing seven tie scores and three lead changes. MSU then started an 11-0 run with the score reading 16-14 in favor of EIU and ended with the Racers earning the set and match victory 25-16.
“I was nervous until the last point was scored tonight,” said Schwepker. “We have struggled all season with consistently so I never took it for granted. I was very pleased with the outcome.”
As a team MSU recorded a .243 (39k-13e-107ta) attack percentage, while the Panthers managed to hit only .068 (31k-23e-117ta). The Racers also out-blocked EIU 9-5, including a 5-1 mark in the second set.
MSU will now return home for the first match of the season
in Racer Arena when it hosts
“I would hope that being at home will make everyone more comfortable,” Schwepker said. “But they will be strong matches this weekend so it won't be easy. To win this weekend we will have to earn it.”
Notes: MSU extended its winning streak to five matches over the Panthers...the streak dates back to the 2006 season...EIU earned the first point of each set...MSU quickly followed those opening points with at least a three-point run...the Racers ended the match with nine total team blocks, the most since Aug. 30 when they recorded 10 and 12 team blocks against James Madison and New Hampshire in the JMU/Days Inn Invitational...this was the first match in 2008 that MSU did not record a single reception error, while also tallying the fewest service errors of the season...the 13 errors registered by the Racers was the lowest amount in the 2008 campaign...the match against Eastern Illinois marked the end of an 11-match road swing for MSU.
