Volleyball Wins Opener of LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational

Friday, August 31

Radford, Va.

3:00 p.m.

Murray State

1-3

The Citadel

0-4

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Citadel	19	19	16	0
Murray St.	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Kent Zickfield

Volleyball Wins Opener of LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational

8/31/2012 5:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

The Murray State volleyball team picked up its first win of the season on Friday by downing The Citadel, 3-0, in the opening game of the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Highlander Invitational in Radford, Va.

The Citadel (0-4) jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame by scoring the first three points and went on to extend its lead to 6-2. However, the Racers (1-3) then went on a 11-3 run to take a 14-9 lead that they never relinquished. Despite the best efforts of the Bulldogs to rally, Murray State stood tough and took the first set, 25-19. Freshman Kristen Besselsen (St. Louis, Mo.) led MSU's offense in the set with six kills, four of which came during the team's 11-point run.

In the second set, the Racers picked right up where they left off in the first, with their respective feet on the offensive gas. Murray State never trailed or tied in the set and led by as many as seven, eventually taking the set by an identical 25-19 score. Besselsen was once again the offensive pacesetter, leading five Racers that recorded kill in the set with seven. Senior Wendi Zickfield (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) followed closely behind with six kills, while freshman Taylor Olden (Lincoln, Ill.) chipped in with four.

In the third set, The Citadel fought tooth and nail with MSU to begin the final set, never taking the lead but keeping pace and even pulling within one at 12-11. However, from that point on the Racers once again put the hammer down and ended the game on a 13-4 run to win the set 25-16.

Besselsen led the Racers in the match with 16 kills and an outstanding .375 attack percentage. Zickfield also had a big day for MSU with 13 kills and a .241 attack percentage. Senior Lia Havili (Haltom City, Texas) led all players with 22 assists, while freshman Sam Bedard (Breese, Ill.) had 12.

Defensively, Olden led Murray State with four blocks, while junior Michelle Lazorchak (Marion, Ill.) and freshman Alyssa Lelm (Mackinaw, Ill.) had three each. Junior Katlyn Hudson (Columbus, Ind.) also put up impressive numbers for the Racers with a team-high 13 digs.

As a team, the Racers also put up impressive numbers and bested the Bulldogs in every major statistical category. MSU finished the match with 47 kills and a season-high .277 attack percentage to raise its season percentage from .118 to .156. Murray State also out-dug The Citadel, 54-40, and notched seven aces, compared to none by the Bulldogs.

On Saturday, the Racers will return to Radford's Dedmon Center to finish play in the invitational with a doubleheader. At 2 p.m., Murray State will take on St. Francis (Pa.), followed by a match with host Radford in the tournament finale at 6 p.m.