Racers Earn Five-Set Win Over Eastern Illinois

Tuesday, November 1

Racer Arena

7:00 PM

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

11/1/2011 11:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Murray State volleyball team moved into a tie for fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 3-2 (25-21, 28-30, 20-25, 26-24,15-10) win over Eastern Illinois at Racer Arena.

Box Score
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The Racers (8-19, 8-8 OVC) were led by junior Cassy Woolverton who garnered a career-best 23 kills and .413 (23k-4e-46ta) hitting percentage and added four blocks. Freshman Beth Mahurin added 15 kills and three blocks, while senior Teresa Krog netted 12 kills. Junior Lia Havili tallied her 13^th double-double of the season, with 55 assists and 11 digs. Senior Kayleah Sauer and sophomore Wendi Zickfield each led the team defensively with 22 digs.

The first set was a battle throughout with 10 ties and five lead changes before a winner could be determined. The final tie came at 20. The Panthers took the next point, but the Racers followed with a 5-0 run that gave them the 25-21 win.

The second set was more of the same, with 12 ties and seven lead changes, and it took extra points to decide. EIU was up late in the set 23-21 when the Racers went on a 2-0 run to force a tie. The teams then traded serves and runs until the scoreboard read 28-27, in favor of MSU. However, the Panthers would not give up and went on a 3-0 run to earn the 30-28 win and tie the match going into the intermission.

The third set was all EIU. The Racers forced four tie scores in the middle of the set, but then a 6-1 run by the Panthers gave them a 17-12 lead and control of the rest of the set. EIU kept the pressure up and earned the 25-20 win.

In set four it looked like the Panthers would earn the win and take the match, as they led by as many as four points early in the set. EIU was up 11-7 when the Racers started their come-back; with a 3-0 run that cut the lead to one (10-11). The teams then traded points and runs until the score was knotted at 20. MSU went on a 3-1 run that gave them a 23-21 advantage. The Panthers countered to tie the set at 23 and then 24 to force extra points. This time the Racers were able to end the extra points early with a 2-0 run that earned them a 26-24 win that forced set five.

The momentum that MSU gained at the end of set four transferred into set five and the Racers started the set with a 5-0 run. The Panthers fought at the beginning with 2-0 and 3-0 runs, but the closest that they got was three (8-5) went a 2-0 run by the Racers pushed the set momentum in their favor for good. The teams traded points the rest of the set and MSU earned the 15-10 win.

The Racers earned a .227 (68k-27e-181ta) to .204 (70k-29e-201ta) advantage in hitting percentage and an 88-68 lead in digs. EIU had a slight lead in blocking (12-9.5) and service aces (4-2), but struggled to keep their serves in the playing area, with 12 service aces.

MSU will hit the road for the final regular-season road matches this weekend at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 4) and Morehead State (Nov. 5). The Racers and the Colonels play at 5 p.m. and then they face the Eagles at 1 p.m. (CST).

Notes: Freshman Kelsey Van Oss saw action in sets four and five and made an immediate impact for MSU…she tallied five block assists, including three-straight during the 5-0 run in set five…she also recorded a kill and two digs…this was the second-straight five-set match for the Racers and the second-straight victory..Sauer is now just 21 digs from claiming the No. 1 spot on the MSU all-time digs list…she has 2,105.