Racers Sweep James Madison For First Win of the 2010 Season

Friday, September 3

Cincinnati, Ohio

4:00 PM

Murray State

James Madison

Senior Ashley Nenninger led the Racers to victory with 10 kills against James Madison.

Racers Sweep James Madison For First Win of the 2010 Season

9/3/2010 6:56:28 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Murray State volleyball team opened the Bearcat Invitational on the right foot, earning a sweep, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-18) of James Madison. The win was the first for the Racers (1-4) in the 2010 season, the second-straight over the Dukes (3-1) and JMU's first loss of the year.

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MSU was led by a duo of seniors' in Becca Lamb and Ashley Nenninger. Lamb tallied a team-high .360 (9k-0e-25ta) hitting percentage and added three blocks, seven digs and two service aces. Nenninger garnered a team-best 10 kills, with five blocks (3-2) and a.261 (10-4e-23ta) hitting percentage.

Defensively, the Racers saw double-digit dig performances from three players. Junior Kayleah Sauer led the team with 17 digs, with freshman Katlyn Hudson added 12 and sophomore Lydia Orf contributing 11.

The teams traded points at the start of the first set, but it was JMU who earned the first lead of the set, with a 5-1 run that opened the score to 4-7, in their favor. The Racers then started a come-back a few serves later and went on a 6-3 run that tied the set at 12. The Dukes and MSU traded the next four serves before the Racers took a 17-14 lead and never allowed JMU to get closer than one point the rest of the set. MSU took a 24-20 advantage, but the Dukes held off a Racers victory for three points before a kill by red-shirt freshman Wendi Zickfield ended the set in favor of MSU, 25-23.

JMU opened the second set by garnering the first two points, but the Racers then strung together a 9-1 run to take control of the set for good. The Dukes made an attempt to close the gap, but were unable to even the score or take a lead in the set, as MSU earned the 25-19 win.

The third set was almost all Racers, despite an early 4-7 deficit. MSU quickly rebounded from the disadvantage and went on a 6-2 run that gave it the lead for the rest of the match. The Dukes kept the set close until late when the Racers opened up the gap with a 4-0 run to take a 23-17 lead on way to their 25-18 set three victory.

MSU hit a season-best .229 (39k-14e-109ta) on the day and added eight blocks, while holding JMU to a .118 (32k-18e-119ta) attack percentage and four blocks.

The Racers will continue at the Bearcat Invitational Saturday when they are scheduled to face Kent State (9 a.m.) and Cincinnati (6:30 p.m.).