Murray State
3-2
Alabama A&M
3-4
Racers Sweep Alabama A&M at Saluki Invitational
8/31/2018 8:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
After falling to Miami (OH) earlier in the day, the Murray State volleyball team bounced back in their second match at the Saluki Invitational, besting Alabama A&M in three sets, 27-25, 25-16, 25-20, at SIU Arena.
The Racers improve to 3-2 on the season as the AAMU falls to 3-4 early in the season.
Senior Dacia Brown led the Racers with 17 kills, followed by junior Rachel Giustino with 12. Sophomore Callie Anderton dished out 40 assists, while classmate Becca Fernandez had 16 digs and junior Rachel Holthaus, redshirt-freshman Kolby McClelland, and Giustino each had three blocks.
As a team, the Racers hit .210 while holding the Lady Bulldogs to .085. MSU also had seven service aces.
In the first set, Alabama A&M had an early 9-6 lead, but the Racers responded with a 4-0 run to take the lead. The two teams traded points until Murray State had match point at 24-23, but the Bulldogs answered with two straight points to get their own match point. The Racers backed down and were able to win three straight points, taking the set on a block by Giustino and McClelland.
Murray State dominated the second set from start to finish as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back. Brown ended the set with a kill as the Racers hit .467 in the second set.
In the third, MSU scored the first two points as they looked to pull away early again, but the Bulldogs kept it close early on, eventually tying the set a 14. The Racers responded right away as two straight kills from Holthaus started a 4-0 run to create separation, eventually taking the set, 25-20, and the match.
Murray State is back in action tomorrow at 3 p.m. as they close out the Saluki Invitational against host Southern Illinois.
