Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Evansville
Racers Lose in Final Two Matches of the Marriott Volley Brawl
9/3/2011 5:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score vs. Evansville
Box Score vs. Ball State
Senior Teresa Krog earned all-tournament honors after recording 45 kills, her first two career service aces, 13 digs and two blocks in the four matches.
Murray State vs. Evansville
The Racers fell to Evansville in the third match of Marriott Volley Brawl in Valparaiso, Ind, 3-1 (26-24, 11-25, 21-25, 21-25).
The Racers came out strong in the first set, with a 3-1 run in the first four serves. Evansville tied the set at three and four before MSU again went on a 3-0 run that gave them the lead for the majority of the set. The Racers built their lead to as many as five points (20-15), but the Purple Aces didn't back down and used a 6-2 run to tie the set again at 22. The teams then traded serves for the next four points before MSU finished the set with a 2-0 run for the 26-24 win.
The teams traded the first eight serves before someone was able to go on a run to take control of the tempo. Evansville went on a 2-0 run and never let MSU get closer than one point the rest of the set on its way to a 25-11 win.
Evansville and MSU traded early runs in the third set before a 4-1 run gave the Racers a four point advantage. MSU built the lead to five points before a 10-2 run by the Purple Aces gave them a 20-17 lead. The Racers continued to fight, but the deficit was not overcome and Evansville took set three 25-21.
The fourth set was a tight battle, with 12 tie scores and five lead changes. The final tie came at 20, when the Purple Aces then went on a 3-0 run that gave them the lead for good. The teams then traded points the rest of the set before Evansville earned the 25-21 win.
The Racers had a stronger performance in several statistical categories in the match, with season bests of 49 kills, 47 assists and eight blocks. The key difference in the match was hitting percentage, with Evansville holding a .295 to .135 advantage.
Murray State vs. Ball State
The Racers fell in their last match of the Marriott Volley Brawl, 3-0 (22-25, 22-25, 19-25) to Ball State at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.
The first set was a close battle for control of the scoreboard, with 10 tie scores and four lead changes. The Racers led by as many as five (17-12), before a Ball State 6-1 run gave them a 21-19 advantage. MSU tied the set at 22, but the Cardinals finished the set on a 3-0 run for the 25-22 win.
Set two was another battle, but this time the Racers either trailed or were tied. The teams battled through eight tie scores, but Ball State used several small runs in the final five points to earn the 25-22 win.
After trading short runs and points at the beginning of the third set the Cardinals took control of the tempo with a 6-2 run that gave them a 10-6 advantage. Ball State never allowed the lead to get lower than four points the rest of the set on its way to a 25-19 win.
The Racers saw their best hitting percentage of the season against Ball State, hitting .239 (41k-15e-109ta), but the Cardinals earned the advantage in the statistical column, with a .384 (50k-12e-99ta) mark.
The Racers will be in action again Tuesday, Sep. 6 when they host their first home match of the 2011 campaign. MSU will welcome Evansville to Racer Arena for a 7 p.m. match. The Racers will round out their preseason tournament action the following weekend (Sep. 9-10) at the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill.
Notes: Freshman Beth Mahurin earned her first career start against Evansville…senior Kayleah Sauer moved back to the libero position for the Racers in the match against the Purple Aces…seniors Teresa Krog and Mary Cunningham both garnered their first career service aces against Evansville…Krog tallied two in the match, while Cunningham added one.
