Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
9-6
UT Martin
5-12
Racers Sweep UT Martin in Home Opener to Remain Perfect in OVC
10/4/2019 8:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
After five weeks on the road to begin the season, the Murray State volleyball team made their home debut Friday evening, defeating UT Martin in three sets to remain perfect in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Racers improve to 9-6 overall and 3-0 in conference play as the Skyhawks fall to 5-12 overall and 1-2 in the OVC. It is also the 14th straight win for MSU at Racer Arena, dating back to 2017.
Rachel Giustino, the OVC's leader in kills, led the Racers with 20 kills while hitting .405. Kolby McClelland chipped in with nine kills and Rachel Holthaus added eight of her own. Ashley McBee dished out 25 assists while reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Week Becca Fernandez had 15 digs.
As a team, the Racers hit .284 and had five service aces while holding the Skyhawks to a .061 hitting percentage and just one ace.
UT Martin started off strong with back-to-back blocks to begin the match, but that was the high point for the Skyhawks as the rest of the set was all Racers. After the first two points, the Racers went on a 6-1 run to take a lead they would not give up. Up 16-11 later in the set, Murray State went on a 5-0 run to double their lead. The Skyhawks got the score back within five at 24-19, but Giustino ended the set on the next point with a kill.
The second set was close early before a 6-2 run by MSU gave the Racers a 12-7 lead. A 5-1 run a little later, which included three kills by Holthaus and two by McClelland pushed the Racer lead to 19-11, which was more than enough cushion as Murray State eventually won the set, 25-16.
The Racers bolted out of the gates in the third set, taking a 6-1 lead aided by back-to-back kills by Katirah Johnson. UT Martin never got it any closer as the Racers took the set, 25-16, ending the match with two straight kills by McClelland to culminate a 4-0 run.
Murray State will be back in action tomorrow night at Racer Arena at 6 p.m. when they take on Southeast Missouri.
