SATURDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 3, Sam Houston State 0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-18)
Eastern Illinois 3, UC Davis 0 (25-18, 26-24, 26-24)
@Akron 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17)
Tulsa 3,
@SIUE 0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
Grand Canyon 3,
Eastern Kentucky 2 (17-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14, 15-12)
@Central Arkansas 3,
UT Martin 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-12)
@Belmont 3, Middle Tennessee 1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-18)
Houston Baptist 3,
Jacksonville State 2 (20-25, 25-16, 25-14, 21-25, 15-8)
@Southeast Missouri 3, Evansville 1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11)
Davidson 3,
Morehead State 1 (15-25, 25-15, 25-18 25-14)
Austin Peay 3, Western Illinois 0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-17)
@Tennessee State 3, FIU 1 (23-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-22)
Loyola 3,
Tennessee Tech 1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22)
@Louisiana Lafayette 3,
Jacksonville State 1 (22-25, 25-13, 26-24, 25-23)
Murray State 3, @Chattanooga 1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 25-11)
@Denver 3,
Eastern Illinois 0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17)
@SIUE 3, UMKC 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-21)
GRAND CANYON 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2
TUSCON, Ariz. - Nikki Drost and Celina Sanks notched double-doubles for the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team in it’s five set loss against Grand Canyon University on Saturday afternoon at the McKale Center at the University of Arizona.
The Colonels fell by scores of 25-17, 25-22, 18-25, 14-25 and 12-15.
In the first two sets EKU gave up the first point, won it back and never trailed again, but the Antelopes came firing back taking the final three sets.
Both teams struggled during the opening of the third set with 7-of-16 points coming off of errors, but a kill from GCU’s Maria Adams gave the Antelopes a 10-7 lead. EKU made multiple attempts to cut into the Lope lead but were unable to come back, dropping the set 25-18.
In the fifth set the teams exchanged points through the duration of the set, but an attack error on the GCU side of the net made EKU the first team to reach eight, 8-6. After the teams switched sides the Lopes went on a 3-0 run to take a 9-8 advantage. A pair of attack errors and a kill from Adams closed the set and match for Grand Canyon.
Back-to-back kills from Drost and Sanks pushed EKU to a 3-1 lead in the first set and they never looked back. A kill from Claire Kovensky drew the Lopes within one, 13-12, but Drost cracked the whip to respond with a 9-1 Colonel run that ended on a kill from Cassie Knutson, moving the score to 22-13. Just as the set began Sanks and Drost found a duo of kills to end the set, 25-17.
The second set seemed to be a copy of the first with the Colonels being down 1-0, but back-to-back kills, this time from Knutson and Sanks, helped give EKU another 3-1 advantage. Again, the Lopes were not able to snuff the Colonels.
Sanks finished with 14 kills, paired with 18 digs while Drost notched 17 kills and 12 digs. Three other Colonels: Chloe Rojas (19), Knutson (11) and Kennedy Wilson (10) also finished with double-digit digs.
Woody finished with 37 assists.
EKU falls to 2-5 on the year while GCU improves to 4-2.
The Colonels will be back in action on September 8 at the University of South Carolina for the Carolina Classic.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3, UT MARTIN 0
CONWAY, Ark. - Playing its fourth match in three days, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball squad rounded out the UCA Invitational with a 3-0 setback to host Central Arkansas (17-25, 21-25, 12-25) this afternoon.
At the conclusion of the match, junior libero Brooke Gyori was honored as one of five members of the all-tournament team. The transfer from Owens Community College piled up 51 digs (5.10 per set) while adding a team-high three service aces in the Skyhawks’ three UCA Invitational matches.
Gyori compiled a match-high 12 digs today against Central Arkansas for UT Martin. Offensively, the Skyhawks were led by Megan Fair (nine kills), Jemima Idemudia (eight kills, .438 attack percentage) and Kelly Lean (season-best 20 assists). Jamie Rys also added six kills and tied a career-high with nine digs for the second straight match for UT Martin (2-5).
Central Arkansas (6-0) led 5-2 in the opening set but a Justine Walker kill and a Sugar Bear attack error on consecutive possessions evened the set at 8-all. Central Arkansas then claimed nine of the next 11 points before a Rys kill and two straight Sugar Bear attack errors pulled the Skyhawks within four points at 17-13. However, UT Martin would not get any closer than four points for the rest of the set.
Kenzie Hinshaw produced a team-high seven assists for the Skyhawks in the first set.
Fair and Rys kicked off the second set with back-to-back kills but UT Martin’s lead diminished after Central Arkansas scored the next four points. Fair recorded two kills in the span of three points for the Skyhawks to cap off a 6-3 run and make the score 9-9 in the process. The score was knotted at 13-all until the Sugar Bears used a 6-1 run to go ahead by five points. UT Martin answered right back with four unanswered points – two via Fair kills – to trail by a slim 19-18 margin before Central Arkansas accounted for the next three points on their way to the 2-0 match advantage.
Fair (six of the 14 Skyhawk kills), Lean (13 assists) and Gyori (eight digs) stood out for UT Martin in the second set.
The Skyhawks took a 3-1 advantage to begin the third set but the Sugar Bears accumulated five of the next six points. Kills by Hayley Gray and Jemima Idemudia kept UT Martin’s deficit to just one point at 7-6 before Central Arkansas scored seven unanswered as part of a 10-1 run. The Skyhawks responded with three straight points thanks to a Walker kill, Rys kill and Fair service ace but the Sugar Bears closed out the set on a 7-1 run.
Lean assisted on seven of UT Martin’s eight kills in the third set but could not find an answer for a Central Arkansas offense that hit .379 with 14 kills.
The Skyhawks will take part in their third nonconference tournament of the season next weekend when they make the short trip to Evansville, Ind. for the Dunn Hospitality Invitational. UT Martin will take on UAB on Friday, Sept. 8 before facing Indiana and Evansville on Saturday, Sept. 9.
DAVIDSON 3, MOREHAED STATE 1
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Freshman outside hitter Lauren Rokey recorded a career-best 17 kills, and junior middle blocker Jessie Wachtman contributed a season-best 11 winners, but Morehead State Volleyball could not keep up a fast start and fell 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 18-25, 14-25) to Davidson to wrap up the Colonial Classic Saturday.
Rokey landed the 17 kills off a team-high 42 attacks. Wachtman was close to perfect, making just three errors for the Eagles (4-3) on 20 swings for a .400 attack efficiency.
The Eagles held the Wildcats to a negative hitting percentage in the first set win but then witnessed the team from North Carolina storm back with 39 kills and only nine errors the remainder of the day. Davidson also made its presence known at the net with 10 blocks.
The Eagles tallied six blocks, led by three assists each from Wachtman and freshman middle Olivia Lohmeier. On the back line, sophomore libero Danielle McCarson and freshman specialist Taylor Hodges combined for 24 of the Eagles' 45 digs.
Morehead State will return home to host the Comfort Inn-Vitational next weekend. South Carolina State, Middle Tennessee and Troy will take part with four matches on Friday and two on Saturday. The Eagles open with SCSU on Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
BELMONT 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After a slow start, Belmont Volleyball got in gear down the stretch for the finale of the Bruiser Showcase on Saturday. The Bruins (5-2) outlasted in-state rival Middle Tennessee State (0-7), 3-1, to take second place in the tournament.
Following a brief back and forth to open set one, MTSU quickly began to pull away. The Blue Raiders maintained a three-point advantage with the Bruins hot on their heels through the middle of the set. After a scoring flurry, MTSU was ahead 20-16, forcing BU to burn its first timeout of the set. The Bruins roared back, closing the gap to 23-19 behind a resounding kill by graduate student Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) that would push the Blue Raiders to call their first timeout of the set. However, Middle Tennessee was able to hold its three-point lead to take the set, 25-22.
The Bruins came out hot in the second frame, rolling off six consecutive points to start with the aid of numerous MTSU attack errors. Even after a called timeout, MTSU seemed unable to find an answer to the streaking Bruins. Belmont continued to pile on the points, pulling ahead 18-8 using kills from Vestal and seniors Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) and Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.). The Blue Raiders made a late push, hoping to build on some BU errors but the Bruins held strong down the stretch, winning 25-13.
After the intermission, Belmont remained hot, piling up early points. The Bruins used a 6-0 run to go up 10-2, forcing the Blue Raiders to call timeout. MTSU emerged ready to reengage but could not find an offensive rhythm. The Blue Raiders sputtered along to try to reach double figures, capitalizing more on missing BU chances and errors than kills. Even after its 6-1 rally, BU remained ahead of Middle Tennessee, 17-10. The Blue Raiders burned their second timeout of the set but appeared to be on fumes compared to their earlier start. Belmont only allowed them to score four more points as it went on to clench the set, 25-14.
MTSU dug in its collective heels early in the fourth stanza, looking to push the match to a fifth set. The Bruins put together several runs to surge ahead after the teams traded points. By their second called timeout with Belmont ahead 17-13, the Blue Raiders seemed to be running of out options to stop BU. Back-to-back service aces by senior Emily Richards (Penfield, N.Y.) combined with a kill by junior Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) gave Belmont a 20-14 lead. A dual block by Person and freshman Huntir Bass (Mobile, Ala.) all but sealed the deal for the Bruins down the stretch. MTSU saw a service error end their final rally and had the set to the Bruins, 25-18.
Person recorded her second consecutive double-double of the match with a match-high 12 kills and 15 digs. Vestal also reached double digits in kills, adding 11. Freshman Akia Warrior (Ft. Worth, Texas) picked up 35 assists while senior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) contributed 13 digs. Ivancich and Richards each recorded three service aces apiece.
Two Bruins were named to the All-Tournament Team for their efforts – Lewis and Person.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday, September 5 when it hosts No. 24 WKU in the Curb Event Center.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team rolled to a three-set victory (25-12, 25-15, 25-17) against Western Illinois to close out its stay at the Blazer Invitational, Saturday afternoon, at Bartow Arena.
With the win, Austin Peay won the Blazer Invitational with a 3-0 mark. Senior Ashley Slay, redshirt junior Christina White and sophomore Kristen Stucker were each named to the all-tournament team.
Austin Peay (6-1) dominated the first two sets, committing just one attack error and leading wire-to-wire in each frame. The Governors opened with 18 kills and an unstoppable .459 attack percentage in the first set. They followed that with 16 kills and a .441 attack percentage in the second.
Western Illinois (3-2) tried to build a big lead early in the third set but was only able to build a 4-1 advantage. Austin Peay scored five straight points to take a 6-4 lead and later closed the set with a 10-4 run to seal the win.
Redshirt junior Christina White led Austin Peay with 15 kills, posting a .414 attack percentage. Senior Ashley Slay posted an errorless attack outing, recording 11 kills on 17 attempts for an impressive .647 attack percentage – just three points shy of her career best.
Austin Peay’s .387 team attack percentage was its 11th best outing in program history and best since its match against Alabama A&M last season. The Governors needed just 51 kills in the victory.
The Governors now turn their attention to next week’s Ole Miss Classic, Thursday-Friday, in Oxford, Mississippi. Austin Peay will face host Ole Miss (4-2), Mercer (3-2) and Northwestern State (3-4) in the event.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee State volleyball team beat the Florida International Panthers 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-22) in the final match of the 2017 Tiger Invitational tournament in Kean Hall. This is the first tournament the Tigers have gone undefeated under new Head Coach Donika Sutton.
Tiger Samantha Beltran recorded two double-doubles to win Tiger Invitational MVP, and sophomore Preseason All-OVC pick Julia Pierson was named to the All-Tournament team.
Katora Roberts set a new career-high in kills recording 13 against Florida International.
Senior setter Sam Beltran recorded her second double-double of the season with 45 sets and 13 digs, earning her All-Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Senior middle blocker Katora Roberts put down 13 kills, surpassing her previous career-high 12.
Julia Pierson was named to the All-Tournament team after recording 13.5 points off of 13 kills, 9 digs, and an assist.
First Set: The Panthers took the first point in set one and never let the Tigers take more than a one-point lead. Kylie Hayes and Curstyn Wilson recorded two of the set’s five aces. Senior outside hitter Alexis Johnson helped keep TSU in the running by scoring 4 kills in the last half of the set. Despite the Tigers effort, TSU fell to FIU 23-25 in set one.
Second Set: The Tigers came back with a vengeance in set two, blocking four big attacks up at the net, Rachel Henderson recording two solo. Tigers take set two 25-16.
Third Set: Katora Roberts put down six kills and one block during the third set earning her the highest hitting percentage for the Tigers. Tigers go into extra points taking set three 26-24.
Fourth Set:. Kean Hall moved out of Nashville and into Block City for the match against FIU as the last point of the Tiger Invitational was made by Rachel Henderson and Katora Roberts, defending an attack by match leader in kills, Margherita Bianchin. Maya Evans came up big for the Tigers as she put down four kills, a dig and a block in the fourth and final set. Tigers take the set 25-22.
TSU travels to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Sept. 8-9 for the Hampton Inn Bama Bash to take on the Crimson Tide, Furman and Hofstra.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, EVANSVILLE 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri volleyball (4-2) took down previously undefeated Evansville (5-1) in a five-set thriller Saturday afternoon to post a 3-0 record over the weekend and win the 2017 Redhawks Invitational Tournament held at the Show Me Center.
SEMO beat Evansville 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11 to win their first non-conference tournament since the 2013 Maroon Classic at Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
Senior outside hitter Krissa Gearring was named the Redhawks Invitational Tournament MVP and Nzingha Clarke and Ally Dion were selected to the All-Tournament team.
Gearring recorded a team-leading 18 digs including her 1,000 career dig as a Redhawk a day after she notched her 1,000 career kill in the victory over Evansville. She also added a team-best 14 kills in the match and finished the tournament with 37 kills (3.36 kills/set) and 34 digs (3.09 digs/set).
Clarke compiled six kills on Saturday and finished the tournament with 19 kills and 18 blocks. Dion totaled 34 digs and nine service aces over the weekend including a team-high 14 digs in Saturday's match.
HOUSTON BAPTIST 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2; LOUISIANA 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Jacksonville State volleyball team suffered a couple of tough setbacks on the final day of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Tournament on Saturday afternoon. .
The Gamecocks (4-3) started the day facing an unbeaten Houston Baptist squad, and gave the Huskies all they could handle in a five-set heartbreaker. In the tournament finale, JSU met host Louisiana in what became every bit as tight of a match as the one earlier in the day.
Senior Charis Ludke led a trio of Gamecock who reached double-digit kills with 13, followed by Mackenzie Rombach (11) and Allyson Zuhlke (10). Senior Jennifer Hart dished 33 assists across the five games in a double-double performance which included 10 digs. Senior Hannah Kirk led the way with 16 digs in the early match.
JSU began to pull away from a 10-10 tie in the first to grab a 17-12, but HBU was soon right back within one at 20-19. The Gamecocks hit a powerful .522 in the opening set and staved off the Husky rally to take the first, 25-20.
HBU evened the match in the second with 17 kills en route to a 25-16 win, and continued its momentum into the third set running away with a 25-14 win to grab a commanding 2-1 match lead. JSU responded in the fourth to take control early and build a 17-10 advantage before sending the match to a winner-take-all fifth frame with a 25-21 decision.
In the nightcap, Jax State was edged out by the host Ragin' Cajun (25-22, 13-25, 24-26, 23-25). The Gamecocks trailed 14-21 in the first set, before mounting a furious rally with nine-straight points that spanned across two UL timeouts. With a 23-21 advantage, JSU held on to take a 1-0 match lead.
The Ragin' Cajun quickly bounced back in the second with a 25-13 victory, before the third and fourth set went point-for-point between the two schools. Louisiana needed extra points to finish off JSU in the third, and sealed the match with another two-point win in the fourth.
Behind 39 kills and 11 blocks over the weekend, Ottawa, Ill., native Mackenzie Rombach was named to the All-Tournament team following the conclusion of the UL match.
JSU returns home briefly before making a midweek journey back to Mississippi on Sept. 5 and 6 to face Alcorn State and Jackson State on the road before hosting the Jefferson's and State Farm Invitational next weekend at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
MURRAY STATE 3, SAM HOUSTON STATE 0; MURRAY STATE 3, CHATTANOOGA 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Murray State volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches in a row Saturday with a pair of victories at the Chattanooga Classic to take home the classic title. The Racers opened the day with their second consecutive sweep, beating Sam Houston State 25-18, 25-18 and 25-18 and then closed the tournament with a four-set win over Chattanooga, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21 and 25-11.
In the opener against SHSU (1-5), Rachel Giustino who recorded 16 kills and added nine digs and a pair of service aces led the Racers. Dacia Brown and Megan Lindsay added eight kills each with Lindsay hitting .429 while Olivia Chatman chipped in with six kills on just seven swings (.857 hitting percentage).
Courtney Radle led the way for MSU (5-1) with 38 assists in the win over the Bobkats and also added six digs and a blocking assist. Becca Fernandez led the Racers with a match-high 14 digs while Alex Kaufmann added seven.
The Racers out-hit SHSU substantially in the match, recording an attack percentage of .229 while holding the Bobkats to just a .064 clips. MSU also had a 5-2 edge on service aces.
Against Chattanooga (4-3) Giustino again led the Racers and had a monster match as she recorded career-highs with 28 kills and 19 digs in the win while Brown’s 17 kills were also a career-best.
Fernandez was again solid in the back row, tallying a career-best 21 digs in the win with Kaufmann adding 14. Rachel Holthaus also had double-digit digs as she recorded 11. Ashley McBee led the Racers with a career-best 44 assists in the victory.
MSU hit .281 in the win over the Mocs while UTC hit .164. The Racers also had seven aces, led by Giustino and Kaufmann’s two each and committed just four serving errors while Chattanooga had four aces and six errors.
Brown, Giustino and Kaufmann were all named to the All-Classic Team with Giustino capturing MVP honors.
The Racers come home for the first time this season in their next match as they host Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. Tuesday inside Racer Arena. MSU currently has a 24-match regular season home winning streak.
AKRON 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0; LOYOLA 3, TENNESSEE TECH 1
AKRON, Ohio - The Golden Eagles wrapped up their first Ohio trip this season with a double-header Saturday as part of the Akron Invitational.
In the first match, host Akron defeated Tech 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17). Loyola (Md.) followed with a four-set win (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22) over the Golden Eagles.
Shaneice James represented Tech (2-4) on the Akron Invitational all-tournament team, hitting .315 on the weekend (including two matches of a hitting percentage of over .330) with 18 kills and 19 points.
Tech improved its team hitting percentage from Friday to Saturday, totaling .056 vs. La Salle and then hitting .240 vs. Akron and .214 vs. Loyola (Md.)
at AKRON
Tech led 15-11 in the first set against Akron (2-4), but the Zips rattled off four-straight points to tie it at 15-all. A 10-5 run gave the Zips the first set victory 25-20.
Tech and Akron danced around one another in the second set, with the Golden Eagles clinging to a 21-20 lead late. A 5-2 run helped Akron to their second set win of 25-23.
The Golden Eagles couldn’t grab a lead in the third set, dropping it 24-17.
vs. LOYOLA (Md.)
Tech built a substantial eight-point lead in the first set against Loyola (Md.), winning 19-11. Loyola (2-4) took advantage of some Tech attack errors, cutting the lead to 24-22, but a kill from Taylor Houck sealed the set win.
However, the Greyhounds would win the next three sets, outlasting Tech with a late 5-1 run in the second set, building a big lead over the Golden Eagles to lock down the third set and holding off Tech in the fourth set to win by three points.
Tech returns to Ohio next weekend for the Holiday Inn Invitational in Dayton. It will play a double-header Friday, Sept. 8 with West Virginia and host Wright State and close with Harvard on Saturday, Sept. 9.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, UC DAVIS 0; DENVER 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
DENVER, Colo. - The Eastern Illinois volleyball team faced tough competition to complete the Denver Pioneer Classic Saturday morning and evening. The Panthers defeated UC Davis in a three-set match in their second game of the tournament 25-18, 26-24, and 26-24. In the final game of the Pioneer Classic EIU dropped a three-set match to Denver, losing by scores of 21-25, 22-25, and 17-25.
Eastern Illinois finished tournament play with a record of 1-3 and 3-3 overall.
Game One: EIU 3, UC Davis 0 (25-18, 26-24, 26-24)
Eastern Illinois and UC Davis squared off in the Panthers first game to kick off the final day of the Pioneer Classic.
Eastern Illinois jumped out to a quick 6-0 run ignited by one of Allie Hueston’s seven kills in the match. UC Davis wouldn’t slow down though tying the Panthers five times in the first set. The first set was all about Panther runs as the Panthers took another 6-0 run in the middle of the set to give them the push they needed to secure the set.
The second set would be more of a challenge for the Panthers, as the Aggies didn’t let EIU jump out to any runs. The Panthers would total for their best hitting average of the match totaling .244. Helping secure the victory for the final two points of the set was an Allie Hueston kill that was followed by a ball handling error from Paloma Bowman of UC Davis.
The second and third set featured a close battled match-up where the Panthers and the Aggies had a total 28 ties and nine lead changes. EIU was able to pull out the victories in each set earning the sweep against UC Davis.
The third set was similar to the second in how both the Panthers and Aggies would continue to exchange points. The difference maker was the Panther comeback sparked by a Laurel Bailey kill and her two service aces, which would lead the Panthers to a 4-0 run to win the match.
Leading EIU offensively was Maria Brown finishing with a team leading ten kills. Taylor Smith led the Panthers in assists with 19. The defensive leaders for the Panthers included Anne Hughes with a team high 17 digs and Allie Hueston with a team leading five blocks.
Game Two: Denver 3, EIU 0
Eastern Illinois and Denver battled it out to close out the Pioneer Classic. Denver was able to fend off the visiting Panthers winning a three-set match 21-25, 22-25, 17-25.
The Panthers came out fighting in the first set with a 4-0 run early to kick off the first set started by a Taylor Smith kill. However, the Pioneers would answer back and be able to hold off the Panthers to take the first set 21-25.
The Second set featured a more balanced battle. EIU and Denver traded points back and forth throughout the whole set until Denver was able to squeeze by with the victory.
The third set featured the Pioneers hitting their second best average of the match hitting .281. Denver was able to hold the Panthers off to secure first place in the Pioneer Classic. With the win, the Pioneers improved to 3-0 in tournament play and 6-0 overall. With the loss, the Panthers fell to 1-3 in tournament play and 3-3 overall.
The Pioneers attacking average didn’t drop below .250 for all three sets. The Pioneers totaled their best hitting average in the first set hitting .316. Tournament MVP Becca Latham helped give the Pioneers the offensive push they needed to hold off the Panthers totaling a team leading eleven kills.
Laurel Bailey led the Panthers with ten kills; Taylor smith recorded a double-double with a team leading thirteen assists and eleven digs. Allie Hueston and Maggie Runge both finished with a team leading three blocks.
EIU returns to action on September 8-9 where they will host the Panther Classic. Visiting the Panthers for the Panther Classic are Alabama A&M, Chicago State, and Western Illinois. The Panthers will open up the tournament against Alabama A&M September 8 at 12 p.m.
TULSA 3, SIUE 0; SIUE 3, UMKC 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE pushed its season record to 5-1, completing the Cougar Classic Presented by DoubleTree Hotels Saturday with a three-set sweep of UMKC.
The Cougars defeated the Kangaroos 25-15, 25-19, 25-21. Earlier in the day, SIUE suffered its first loss of the season, falling to tournament champion Tulsa 25-17, 25-19, 25-19.
Senior outside hitter Emily Harrison was named to the All-Tournament team. Harrison and Ashley Witt tied for the team lead in kills for the weekend with 24.
Once again, a balanced attack was in order for the Cougars. Jackie Scott led SIUE against UMKC with 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Taylor Joens and Harrison each finished with eight.
The Cougars opened the match with a side-out percentage of 87 percent in the first set. Young credited the defensive core led by Shashack.
SIUE hit .272 for the match against UMKC while the Kangaroos hit just .155 as a team.
Alicia Harrington and Alex Ratzlaff were the team leaders in kills for UMKC with nine each.
SIUE now heads back to the road for the Scenic City Showdown in Chattanooga, Tennessee, next Friday and Saturday. The Cougars face host Chattanooga as well as Georgia State and Jackson State in the two-day tournament.