Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Evansville
Racers Drop Home Opener to Evansville
9/6/2011 10:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score
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The Racers (0-8) were led by junior Cassy Woolverton, who tallied 16 kills and a .343 (16k-4e-35ta) hitting percentage. Senior Teresa Krog was also in double digits in the kill's column, with 14. Junior Lia Havili garnered her second double-double, with 16 assists and 19 digs.
“In the second and third sets we played the best volleyball we have played all season,” said head coach David Schwepker. “That improvement means that we are progressing and moving forward, which is a huge positive for this team. We need to keep playing hard and remember that it's not how you start the season it's how you end the season.”
After trading points and runs to open the match, Evansville went on a 2-0 run with the score knotted at three in the first set to take the lead for good. The teams traded serves again for the next five points before a 4-0 run gave the Purple Aces (7-2) the added push they needed on their way to a 25-16 win.
The second set again saw Evansville pull ahead early and hold on for the win. However, MSU made the set a lot closer. After the Purple Aces went up by as many as six (12-6), the Racers pulled within one (12-13), with a 5-0 run of their own. The one point deficit was as close as MSU would get in the set; as Evansville went on to win 25-22.
The final set was a back-and-forth battle for control of the scoreboard, with 14 tie scores and two lead changes. The final tie came at 23-all when the Racers used a 2-0 run to knot the score, but Evansville capitalized on a service error by MSU and a block to earn the 25-23 win.
The key statistical differences were in hitting percentage and team blocks, with Evansville taking advantages in both areas. The Purple Aces hit .268 (44k-10e-127ta) to MSU's .180 (42k-19e-128ta) and tallied 11 blocks to the Racers three.
The Racers will be in action again this weekend at the Saluki Invitational, Sep. 9-10 in Carbondale, Ill. MSU will first play host Southern Illinois, Friday, Sep. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and then battle with Memphis (Sep. 10/10:30 a.m.) and Green Bay (Sep. 10/5 p.m.).
Notes: MSU is now 14-15 in home openers.
