Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
2-14,0-4MVC
Indiana State
7-8,1-3MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana St. | 19 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Murray St. | 25 | 21 | 25 | 18 | 11 | 2 |
Racers Fall in Five-Set Thriller Against Indiana State
10/3/2026 8:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Murray State fell to Indiana State in a five-set thriller Saturday night at Racer Arena.
The Racers (2-14) put up one of their best offensive performances of the season against the Sycamores (7-8), setting a season high with 56 kills and hitting a second-best .251. However, Indiana State's outside hitters, Corinne Knapp and Curry Kendall, proved too much for the Racers, combining for 40 kills and eight service aces.
The Navy and Gold's offense was led by sophomore Anne Makowski, who followed up a season-low six-kill night in the Racers' home opener Friday with a career-high 24 kills on 57 attempts, hitting .333 in her most efficient outing of the season. Makowski's dominance was highlighted by seven kills in the third set, including four during a stretch that extended Murray State's lead from 15-13 to 21-17. She also delivered the set-winning kill to give the Racers a 2-1 advantage.
On the defensive side, Ada Tamturk followed her career night against Evansville, recording 25 digs Friday, with a 24-dig outing against Indiana State, the two highest single-player dig counts for the Racers this season. The Racers also dominated at the net, combining for a season-high 11 team blocks, surpassing their previous season high of nine. Lily Evans and Maezi Snyder led Murray State with five block assists apiece, followed by Paige Brock and Alexa Watts with four each. Makowski added two block assists and one solo block. Watts also contributed 15 digs, while Brock directed the offense with 44 assists.
The Racers jumped ahead 6-1 in the opening set behind three Evans kills and a Samantha Nelson service ace before extending their lead to 18-9. Indiana State closed the gap, but two late Makowski kills and a Watts kill secured the 25-19 victory.
Indiana State responded in the second set with a seven-point run, including three Kendall aces, to turn a 6-4 deficit into an 11-6 lead. The Racers fought back within one at 13-12 but could not regain the lead, falling 25-21.
Murray State recorded 18 kills and hit .327 in the third set, with Makowski putting down seven kills and Evans adding four without an error to help build a 23-19 advantage. The Sycamores pulled within one at 24-23 before Makowski delivered the set-winning kill to give the Racers a 2-1 lead.
The Racers recovered from an early 4-0 deficit in the fourth set to take a 15-14 lead, but Indiana State answered with six consecutive points. Back-to-back Makowski kills brought Murray State within three at 21-18 before the Sycamores scored the final four points to force a fifth set.
Indiana State built a 9-4 lead in the deciding set before the Racers fought off three match points with a Watts kill, a Sycamore attack error and a block by Watts and Evans. The Sycamores ended the comeback on the next rally, taking the set 15-11 to secure the match.
Murray State is back in action Friday at 6 p.m. against Valparaiso as the Racers continue Missouri Valley Conference play and look to pick up their first conference win of the season.
