Volleyball Drops Opener Against Tennessee Tech, 3-1

Sunday, March 21

Murray, Ky.

6 p.m.

Murray State

5-8,5-8OVC

Tennessee Tech

6-7,6-7OVC

Tennessee Tech

Murray St.

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

3/21/2021 10:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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Murray State Volleyball team lost in four sets to Tennessee Tech at Racer Arena on Mar. 21.

The Murray State volleyball team (5-8) fell to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (6-7) in four sets, 25-18, 27-29, 21-25, 23-25 on Sunday in Murray, Kentucky, falling to 5-8 in conference play.

For the second straight game, the Racers started fast, jumping on top in the first set 25-18, before dropping the next three to fall in four sets. Murray State had leads in all four sets but were not able to hold on to it.

Jayla Holcombe topped the Racers with 16 kills and Taylor Beasley hit a career-high 11 kills with a .300 hitting percentage.

Kolby McClelland just missed out on her second double-double of the season finishing with nine kills and ten digs.

Becca Fernandez dug up 29 balls throughout the four sets and Callie Anderton tallied 41 assists.

The Racers started extremely hot, scoring the first eight points of the game. The run started on a kill by Beasley and finished on a service ace from Anderton.

The Golden Eagles made a bid to get back into the game, closing it to 12-8 but Murray State shut the door in the first set using runs of 3-0 and 5-0. Kolby McClelland secured the opening set, 25-18 with a kill.

Murray State again start fast in set two, pulling out to a 7-3 lead over the Golden Eagles using a kill by Holcombe and a service ace from Emma Kailiponi. The Racers stayed in control of the game holding an advantage of five points at the 22-17 mark. Tennessee Tech fought back, rattling off five straight to tie things at 22. The Racers, up one at 24-23 saw the Golden Eagles finish the game scoring seven of the final ten points to close set two, 29-27 and even the series at a game apiece.

In the third set, with the game tied at 15, Tennessee Tech began to pull away, winning seven of the next eight points to lead 20-17. The Racers and Golden Eagles traded the points the rest of the way and Tennessee Tech closed out set three, 25-21.

The final set of the night saw the Racers build a 7-5 advantage but Tennessee Tech immediately erased it with four points in a row. Murray State took back the lead and led all the way the 20-17 when the Golden Eagles put down seven of the next eight points, seeing the Racers defend two match points, but ultimately fell 25-23.

The Racers face the Golden Eagles again tomorrow in the final game at Racer Arena of the 2020-21 season. Game time is set for 4 p.m.