Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
6-4
Valparaiso
5-6
Racers Drop Season Opener to Valpo
8/30/2019 8:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State volleyball team opened the 2019 season, Friday afternoon, taking on Valparaiso at the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational in Indianapolis, ultimately falling in four sets to the Crusaders.
Rachel Giustino led the Racers with 24 kills and 18 digs. Ashley McBee had 35Â assists for MSU while Kolby McClelland led the way with three blocks.
The Racers got off to a fast start in the first set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead, but Valpo responded with an 8-2 run to take a slim lead. With the score tied at 11, the Crusaders went on a 6-0 run to break the set open, eventually winning 25-20.
Murray State got off to another fast start in the second set, winning the first four points, alternating kills by McClelland and Giustino. A 7-2 run later in the set expanded the Racer lead to 17-8, which was a wide enough cushion for the Racers as they took the set 25-20 as McClelland and Giustino teamed up for the block to end it.
The third set went back and forth until Valpo went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-10 lead midway through the set. The Racers got back to within two at 20-18 on a kill by Rachel Holthaus, but the Crusaders responded with a 5-0 run to take the set.
In the fourth set, a 4-0 run by Valparaiso gave them a 17-13 lead which they were able to hold onto as they won the set, 25-20, to take the match.
The Racers will continue their opening weekend tomorrow beginning with host IUPUI at 11 a.m. before wrapping up with South Dakota at 3:30 p.m.
