Racers Clinch OVC Tournament Berth with 3-1 Win Over Southeast Missouri State

Tuesday, November 10

Racer Arena

7 p.m.

Murray State

Southeast Missouri State

Racers Clinch OVC Tournament Berth with 3-1 Win Over Southeast Missouri State

11/11/2009 4:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

The Murray State volleyball team had several firsts and milestones in its 3-1 (28-30, 33-31, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Southeast Missouri State in the last game in Racer Arena for the 2009 campaign. The Racers (11-16, 10-6 OVC) clinched a berth in the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with the victory, which saw sophomore libero Kayleah Sauer tally her 1,000th career dig to become the 12th member of the MSU 1,000 Dig Club.

The Racers had five players record double-digit dig totals for the first time this season and had four players tally double-digit kill totals. Junior Becca Lamb recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs, while Kayleah Sauer tallied 21 digs for MSU on her way to over 1,000 in her career, while senior Cassie Chesney recorded a season-best 22 and ended the match just two shy of the 1,000 dig mark herself.

“ Kayleah Sauer and Cassie Chesney played spectacular defense tonight,” said head coach David Schwepker. “It was good to see Kayleah get into the 1,000 Dig Club and to know that Cassie will join her.”

The first and second sets were the longest sets of the year for the Racers, with the winning team tallying 30 or more points to take the win. The Redhawks (13-16, 8-9 OVC) took the win in set one, 30-28, after both teams forced 10 tie score and five lead changes. The teams each traded several runs in the beginning of the set before forcing seven of the ties after SEMO was the first to get to 20 points. The Redhawks took the win on two errors in-a-row by MSU.

The second set was even more of a battle for control with 23 ties and seven lead changes. Neither team took more than a two-point advantage through the set. The Racers had to battle back to force extra-points after SEMO went up 24-23 on a kill by Emily Maher, but Amanda Rickhoff recorded a service error to give MSU a chance to come-back and win. The Racers earned the win on two-straight errors by the Redhawks.

Before heading to the locker room for the intermission the team took the time to present the Gesler Family of Murray with a check for $3,678.75, the amount raised by the Swinging To Eliminate Cancer fundraiser.

The excitement of helping a local family in a time of need and from fighting back to win the second set allowed MSU to take control of the third set right from the start. The Racers opened the set with a 6-1 lead and never allowed SEMO to get closer than four points the rest of the set on their way to the 25-19 win.

The Redhawks renewed the tight battle in the fourth set and forced 11 ties on the scoreboard. The final tie came at 15, when the Racers started a 4-2 run to take the lead for good. MSU closed out the set with a 5-1 run with Lydia Orf serving to earn the 25-19 victory.

The Racers recorded several season bests in the four-set match, including kills (69), attacks (203), digs (100), and assists (64). MSU also out-dug the Redhawks for the second-straight match (100-97). SEMO is currently ranked No. 2 in the country with 19.1 digs per set.

The Racers will conclude regular-season action this weekend with a road trip to Tennessee State (Nov. 13) and Austin Peay (Nov. 14). MSU will face the Lady Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday and the Lady Govs at 2 p.m. Saturday before preparing for the 2009 OVC Tournament, Nov. 19-21 at Jacksonville State.

Quotes
Head Coach David Schwepker
“SEMO came to play tonight and I knew that it was going to be a battle because we both need a win. They scouted us really well because they did a good job playing to our weaknesses tonight.”

“Our back row played outstanding defense tonight. SEMO changed up their offense tonight and tried to avoid hitting to Kayleah so it was great to see everyone else step up on defense and dig like then did tonight.”