Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Indiana
Racers lose to Indiana at adidas Classic
9/5/2009 6:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team lost to Indiana in the final match of the adidas Classic, 1-3 (25-22, 22-25, 12-25, 14-25), in Bloomington, Ind.
The Races (0-6) were led by junior Becca Lamb, who tallied nine kills and .227 (9k-4e-22ta) hitting percentage. Sophomore Kayleah Sauer led the defense with a season-high 17 digs, while sophomore Jade Guo garnered 24 assists and a career-high three service aces.
After struggling in the first day of the adidas Classic the Racers came out strong in the first set against the Hoosiers (4-2). The teams traded the first four points before Indiana took a 6-3 lead, with a 4-1 run. MSU did not let that get them down, as they fought back with a 5-2 run to tie the set at nine. The teams again battled for the lead, and had tie scores from nine to 12, before the Hoosiers again took a lead with a 3-1 run (15-13). The Racers then took control of the momentum and went on a 5-0 run to take the final lead of the set. MSU built their lead to four (20-16) and Indiana tried to mount a come back with a 3-0 run, but the one-point deficit was as close as the Racers allowed the Hoosier to get. For the rest of the set MSU built a two or three-point lead and Indiana got within one, but the Racers earned the 25-22 win.
At the start of the second set it looked like the Racers were in control, as they pushed out to an early 6-1 advantage. MSU increased its lead to seven points (11-4) before the Hoosiers fought back with a 7-1 run to pull within one point (12-11). The Racers regrouped and pushed ahead with a 3-0 run of their own and then the teams traded runs before MSU took a 20-15 lead. Indiana was not done fighting though and used a 10-2 rally to earn the set victory, 25-22. The run was filled with several long rallies and a lot of blocking by the Hoosiers. In the second-to-last point of the match the Racers were blocked four times and were able to recover three before the point went to Indiana.
After the 10-minute break the momentum that the Hoosiers had created in the second set continued as they quickly gained a 6-0 advantage and never looked back. The Racers struggled with errors and saw the Hoosier block become even more of a defense, as the Hoosiers earned the 25-12 win.
The fourth set started out close, but after the score was tied at three Indiana went on a 3-0 run to take the final lead of the match (6-3). MSU cut the lead to one (5-6), but another run by the Hoosiers pushed the lead to five. Indiana kept the intensity going and earned the 25-14 win.
Blocking and serving aces seemed to be the keys to victory for the Hoosiers. The Racers were out-blocked 15.5 to two and landed only five service aces, while Indiana claimed 10.
MSU will have one more weekend on the road before playing its first match in Racer Arena. The Racers will face Valparaiso, Friday, Sep. 11 at 11 a.m., in the first day of the 30th Annual Saluki Invitational. On the second day MSU battles host Southern Illinois at 9 a.m. and Alabama-Birmingham at 4 p.m.
