Racers Sweep Opening Day, Fernandez Moves into Third on All-Time Digs List

Friday, August 27

Macon, Ga.

12 p.m.

Murray State

1-0,0-0OVC

New Hampshire

0-1,0-0America East

New Hampshire

Murray St.

Photo by: Justine Ertl - Murray State Athletics

Racers Sweep Opening Day, Fernandez Moves into Third on All-Time Digs List

8/27/2021 8:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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Murray State opened their 2021 campaign with 3-1 wins over both New Hampshire and Stetson

The Murray State Racers volleyball team (2-0) began their 2021 season with two wins on the first day at the Mercer Bear Classic.

The Racers won the opening game over New Hampshire (0-1) in four sets, 25-12, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25, and finished the day, winning also in four sets over Stetson (0-2), 25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15.

Becca Fernandez moved into third place on the Racers' All-Time Dig List, picking up 15 digs against UNH and 35 digs against Stetson, moving past Kim Koehler with 2,022 career digs.

Brooke Lynn Watts made a statement in her collegiate debut, knocking down 46 kills over the two matches. She hit .333 with 25 kills in the first match and then followed it up with 21 kills in the night cap.

Bailey DeMier also making her collegiate debut, dished out 84 assists and dug 34 balls.

Game One – Murray State 3, New Hampshire 1
The Racers came out firing, easily taking the opening set 25-12 over UNH. Murray State went on a 9-2 run to begin the match and never looked back, building their lead to as many as 13.

UNH put up more of a fight in the second set tying the game at 13 before Murray State pulled away thanks to a 7-2 run and closed out the set 25-20 to go up 2-0.

Set three was a back-and-forth affair with neither team never leading by more than three points. Up 22-20, New Hampshire went on 5-1 run to close out the set.

The fourth set was an even closer game with 16 ties and seven lead changes. Tied at 25, a kill from Watts and a block from Morgan Price and Bailey DeMier sealed the Racers first victory of the 2021 season.

Game Two – Murray State 3, Stetson 1
For the second game in a row, the Racers got off to a hot start, jumping ahead 7-3 and then 14-7 in the first set. Stetson tied to mount a comeback but were only able to get within two of the Racers as the Racers took a 1-0 advantage in the match.

Fast starts were the theme as Murray State went up 8-2 in the second set and then cruised to a 25-18 for a 2-0 lead.

The third set proved to be tougher for the Racers as they fell behind and couldn't make up the distance, fighting off two set points for Stetson before dropping the third set, 21-25.

Bouncing back from their set three loss, Murray State charged ahead 8-4 after rattling off four straight points. The Racers continued to put pressure on the Hatters all game, going on a 5-0 scoring run to push the lead to nine at 22-13. Kills from Darci Metzger and Jayla Holcombe sealed the second opening day victory, 25-15, in the 3-1 win.

Murray State returns to action tomorrow against tournament host Mercer at 1 p.m. CT/ 2 p.m. ET at Hawkins Arena.