FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 3, South Carolina State 0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-19)
@Alabam 3,
Tennessee State 0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-20)
West Virginia 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-14)
Austin Peay 3, Mercer 1 (25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23)
@Jacksonville State 3, North Carolina A&T 0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-12)
Montana 3,
Southeast Missouri 2 (25-12, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 15-12)
@Eastern Illinois 3, Alabama A&M 0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-27)
@South Carolina 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-20, 25-19, 26-24)
@Kansas 3, B
elmont 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-18)
Radford 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-12)
@Drake 3,
Southeast Missouri 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
UT Martin 3, UAB 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21)
Creighton 3,
Belmont 0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-19)
Austin Peay 3, Northwestern State 2 (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 16-26, 16-10)
@Chattanooga 3,
SIUE 1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21)
@Morehead State 3, Troy 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17)
Furman 3,
Tennessee State 2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-28, 15-6)
@Bradley 3,
Murray State 0 (26-16, 25-22, 25-16)
@Jacksonville State 3, Alcorn State 0 (25-10, 25-9 25-12)
@Wright State 3,
Tennessee Tech 1 (25-17, 22-25, 29-27, 25-15)
SOUTH CAROLINA 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0; RADFORD 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
COLUMIA, S.C.- The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team dropped games to the University of South Carolina and Radford University Friday on day one of the Carolina Classic in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Colonels fell to the South Carolina by scores of 20-25, 19-25 and 24-26.
EKU came into the third set down 2-0 and quickly found themselves in an 18-8 hole. Celina Sanks then came up with a kill to spark a 12-3 Colonel run, bringing EKU within one, 21-20. During the run the Gamecocks committed seven errors, Rachel Woody put a ball down and Nikki Drost put a lethal hit on two.
South Carolina’s Alicia Starr tallied a kill to end the run, Drost then scored back-to-back points to tie the score at 22. Cassie Knutson got in on the action, pulling EKU ahead 24-23, giving the Colonels their first lead since the first point of the set.
An attack error tied the set again, 24-24. A block and kill from South Carolina ended the game and the match, 26-24.
Sanks led the Colonels with 10 kills, followed by Knutson with eight and Drost with seven. Woody tallied 21 assists.
EKU fell to Radford by scores of 14-25, 15-25 and 12-25.
After hitting a clip of .219 in the first set EKU found themselves trailing the Highlanders 10-5 until Sanks put a ball down to spark a 7-2 EKU run to tie the score at 12-12. A duo of kills from Radford and a trio of errors from the Colonels let RU run away with a 12-1 run to move the score, 24-13. After an attack error EKU regained the service and maintained it after Lauren Kolenik found a kill of her own. Radford’s Maddie Palmer put down the kill to win the set, 25-15.
Palmer led all players with 16 kills and 12 digs.
Drost led the Colonels in kills with seven.
EKU drops to 2-7 while Radford improves to 7-1 and South Carolina moves to 5-2.
The Colonels will be back in action tomorrow to play Miami of Ohio at 11 a.m.
KANSAS 3, BELMONT 0; CREIGHTON 3, BELMONT 0
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Belmont University Volleyball dug deep and aimed highfor its first match of the Kansas Invitational on Friday. The Bruins (5-4) did not back down from the challenge to taking on No. 7 Kansas (8-0) and despite falling 3-0, BU came up big in respect from its opponent.
The Bruins fell behind early, 6-1, in the opening stanza and quickly burned a timeout. After the brief break, the Bruins started to resemble their more comfortable selves with kills coming from graduate student Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) and senior Brie Lewis (Stilwell, Kan.) to start putting points on the board for BU. Back-to-back kills by senior Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) helped close the gap to 11-6. Belmont won a challenge call and used the momentum to keep the game tight down the stretch. The Bruins hustled to make it a two-point set, 18-20, with another kill from Person. However, the Jayhawks were able to rally again, going on to take the frame, 25-18.
BU opened the second frame hot, rolling off three straight points before Kansas made a mark on the scoreboard. The match resumed the frantic pace of the first set and the Jayhawks took advantage of untimely Bruin errors to go on a 7-1 run to pull ahead, 13-6. KU continued to surge and expanded its lead to eight points, 17-9. Person delivered some powerful backcourt kills to help rally her teammates down the stretch and BU put together a 6-0 run, capped by a service ace by Vestal to close the gap to just three points, 21-18. Unfortunately, Belmont was only able to eke out two more points as Kansas narrowly clenched the set, 25-20.
The Bruins caught Kansas early in the third frame, knotting the score 7-7 following a kill by junior Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) and a pair of service aces by Lewis. Belmont went on to force a total of four scoring ties before Kansas used an 8-1 run to build a five point lead, 17-12. The Bruins called timeout after the Jayhawk flurry and would only go on to add a handful of points before burning its final timeout of the match, trailing 24-17. Unfortunately, BU could not overcome the late deficit and fell, 25-18.
Person led the Bruin attack with 11 kills followed by Vestal with seven while senior Emily Richards (Penfield, N.Y.) finished with 11 digs. Freshman Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) recorded 26 assists. Lewis notched the team's lone solo block of the match.
The Belmont University Volleyball team may have left it all on the floor in their first match of the day as it pushed through a sluggish showing in its second duel of the day at the Kansas Invitational. The Bruins (5-5) could not find an offensive rhythm to take on its second nationally ranked opponent of the day in No. 9 Creighton (6-2), falling 3-0.
A furious back and forth battle marked the beginning of the duel between the programs but it would be short lived. The Bluejays put together a 5-0 run to go up 11-6 and force the Belmont bench to call a timeout. The break in the action did not assist the Bruins in finding a much needed offensive rhythm to keep them in the game. BU fell behind by double digits for the first time on day one of the Kansas Tournament as Creighton went up, 18-8. The Bruins would only be able to squeeze out two more points as the Bluejays took the frame, 25-10.
The Bruins still appeared out of rhythm going into the second set. Creighton rolled off an 8-1 run to take a 12-5 lead early in the frame and Belmont called a much needed timeout. The Bluejays kept piling on the points and blew their lead up to double digits as in the previous set. The out-of-sorts Bruins even changed floor personnel but could not find a cohesive attacking rhythm to get them back in the game. CU closed the set with a 4-0 run to take the set, 25-10.
BU came out with more energy in the third stanza, keeping the score differential to within two points early. Another personnel change helped light the Belmont flame higher and soon it became a one-point set, 6-5. The Bruins continued to keep the set tight, not allowing the CU lead to grow larger than four points before closing the gap once again. Belmont unleashed a 5-1 run to make it a 19-16 set but it appeared the team ran out of gas down the stretch despite strong attacks by junior Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.), graduate student Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) and seniors Brie Lewis (Stilwell, Kan.) and Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.). Creighton capitalized on late mistakes by Belmont and went on to take the set, 25-19.
Vestal and Person led the team in kills with seven and six, respectively. Junior Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) finished with 13 assists. Junior Haley Sullivan (Lemont, Ill.) contributed six digs while Vestal and Person each added five. Freshman Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) recorded her first collegiate solo block.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for the final day of the Kansas Invitational. The Bruins face off against No. 21 Purdue with first serve set for Noon.
UT MARTIN 3, UAB 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team made a statement on the first day of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational, cruising past UAB for a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) this afternoon at Meeks Fieldhouse.
The Skyhawks (3-5) were in command from the start, making short work of a Blazer squad that came in as victors in three of their last five matches. Despite the fact that the match only lasted three sets, UT Martin established new season-highs in service aces (eight) and blocks (nine).
Megan Fair’s 11 kills led a balanced Skyhawk attack, as the junior from Conover, NC hit .269 with just four errors in 26 swings. Jamie Rys tied a career-high with eight kills while scooping up a career-best 10 digs while Jemima Idemudia (seven), Hannah Phillips (six) and Hayley Gray (five) combined for 18 kills with only four errors for a .350 attack percentage.
Kenzie Hinshaw (17 assists) and Kelly Lean (11) split setter duties and kept the well-oiled UT Martin offense at full force, as the Skyhawks hit .271 for the match.
Defensively, Brooke Gyori was responsible for a match-high 13 digs while Idemudia (five), Gray (five) and Justine Walker (four) combined for 14 blocks for UT Martin.
The Skyhawks jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the first set and expanded the lead to 5-2 thanks to a trio of kills by Idemudia. UT Martin soon led by a 10-4 margin but UAB came back with an 8-1 spurt that temporarily resulted in a 12-11 Skyhawk deficit. Fair would soon heat up, delivering three kills in the span of five points as UT Martin went back on top, 22-16. A Rys kill put the finishing touches on the 25-19 Skyhawk victory in the opening stanza.
Fair and Idemudia shared the team lead with four kills in the first set, as UT Martin hit .290 with only four errors.
Gray helped carry the Skyhawks in the early stages of the second set, piling up two kills and two blocks during UT Martin’s 8-6 lead. Rys, Fair and Phillips teamed up for kills on three straight possessions to break an 11-all tie but the Blazers responded with three straight points to even the score at 14-14. The Skyhawks answered with a 4-0 run and would not allow UAB to get any closer than two points the rest of the way, as Phillips put UT Martin ahead 2-0 after her kill made the score 25-20.
Fair (four), Phillips (four), Rys (three) and Gray (three) combined for each of the Skyhawks’ 14 kills as UT Martin compiled a .300 attack percentage in the second set.
The Skyhawks began the third set with four straight points before the Blazers eventually tied the score at 6-6. UT Martin popped right back to record seven of the next 10 points, taking a 13-9 advantage in the process. UAB did not waver and eventually came back to tie the score at 19-all. Following a 20-20 tie, Fair rose to the occasion and deflated the Blazer comeback bid, slamming down three kills to wrap up the set and give the Skyhawks the clean sweep.
Seven different UT Martin players pitched in with a kill in the final set as the Skyhawks sided out at 61 percent (13-of-21).
UT Martin will look to continue its momentum on Saturday, Sept. 9 when it takes on a pair of opponents. The Skyhawks will take on Indiana at 10 a.m. before facing host Evansville at 6:30 p.m.
BRADLEY 3, MURRAY STATE 0
PEORIA, Ill. - The Murray State volleyball team’s six-match winning streak was snapped Friday night at Bradley as the Racers fell in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-16 in Peoria, Ill. The loss drops MSU’s record to 6-2 on the year.
The Racers struggled offensively in the match, hitting just .084, their second-lowest hitting percentage of the season. Meanwhile, the Braves (3-6) hit .323 and out-blocked MSU 10-5. Both teams recorded five service errors while BU had five aces to MSU’s four.
Rachel Giustino led the Racers with 13 kills in the loss while Dacia Brown added seven and Rachel Holthaus chipped in with five. Giustino also had eight digs in the loss and led the way defensively at the net with three total blocks.
Ashley McBee led the way with 19 assists on the night and in the back row, libero Becca Fernandez led the squad with 14 digs.
MSU looks to bounce back Saturday morning as it ends the Bradley CEFCU Classic against Illinois-Chicago in an 11 a.m., match.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, ALABAMA A&M 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois volleyball team squared off against Alabama A&M to officially kick off the EIU Panther Classic. Eastern Illinois won a three-set match over Alabama A&M, winning by scores of 25-9, 25-12, and 29-27.
Tournament play will resume tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with Western Illinois facing Alabama A&M. Eastern Illinois will play the 1 p.m. game against Chicago State and will complete the tournament against Western Illinois at 7 p.m.
With the win, Eastern Illinois advances to 4-3 on the season.
EIU came out aggressive dominating the first two sets of the match. The Panthers totaled a season-high side-out percentage hitting 100% (9-of-9) and attacking percentage of .560. EIU finished the set with 14 kills and no attack errors. Offensively the Panthers spread the ball around with Taylor Smith, Maria Brown and Maggie Runge finishing the set with three kills each. The Panthers started off strong in the first set jumping out to an early 8-0 run sparked by an Abby Knight kill. The Panthers would take charge of the set and never look back taking a 7-0 run late from a Brown kill to secure the set.
The Panthers started off the second set with a 4-0 run fueled from another Brown kill. Taking control of the set for the Panthers was Brown who totaled five of her team high 14 kills, and Laurel Bailey who had four of her ten kills. The Panthers went halfway through match totaling not a single attacking error, finishing the set hitting .353.
The third set included the Panthers toughest test for the day winning the set by a score of 29-27. The Bulldogs answered back to the 2-0 lead the Panthers took early in the match making the Panthers really battle for the win. Syretha Pride led the Bulldogs with a team high eight kills on the day, and Meredith Sieck had a team high 21 assists. The Panthers were able to jump out to secure the victory with the help of Brown who had a set high six kills and Smith who had her best assist total of the match with 11 in the set. Smith finished the match with 27 assists.
Bailey posted her second double-double of the year finishing the match with ten kills, and a team high 16 digs. Runge had nine kills while Anne Hughes added 11 digs. Knight led EIU with three blocks.
MONTANA 3, SOUTEHAST MISSOURI 2; DRAKE 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
DES MOINES, Iowa - Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (5-4) fell in their Drake Invitational doubleheader Friday at the Knapp Center.
The Redhawks lost a hard fought five-set match to Montana (4-3) 12-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-22, 12-15 in the morning and then were swept by tournament host, Drake (7-2), 20-25, 15-25, 18-25 in their afternoon meeting.
Montana 3, Southeast Missouri 2 (25-12, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 15-12)
The Redhawks dropped the opening two sets, 12-25, 21-25, before winning the third and fourth sets, 25-17, 25-22. In the fifth set, the Grizzlies outlasted SEMO 15-12. Friday's match with Montana marked the fourth straight five-set match for Southeast.
Sophomore outside hitter Mikayla Kuhlmann led Southeast with her second-straight double-double performance. Kuhlmann racked up a team-high 13 kills and 13 digs.
Setter Keegan Fornoff led the Redhawks with 28 assists and Allie Henkelman added 13 assists.
Nzingha Clarke posted a team-best seven blocks and Emily Boggetto added 12 digs.
In the first set, the Griz jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Southeast recorded kills from Madara Bajare, Kuhlmann and Krista Berns to cut the deficit in half, 10-5. Clarke and Kuhlmann added two more kills to bring SEMO's point total in the first set to 12 but Montana would roll to a 25-12 set win.
The second set was more competitive but the Grizzlies started the match with a 7-2 lead. Two kills from Bajare and a block from Clarke and Kuhlmann made the score 7-5. Fornoff notched two aces to give Southeast a 17-13 lead before Montana went on a five-point rally to take an 18-17 lead. SEMO would tie the set at 18-18 and 19-19 before Montana closed the set with kills from Missy Huddleston, Baily Permann, Cassie Laramee and McKenzie Kramer.
The Redhawks responded with victories in the third and fourth sets with 11 and 17 team kills. Southeast hit a match-best .458 in the third set.
Kills by Madeline Grimm, Berns and Kuhlmann opened the third set in Southeast's favor, 4-1. Boggetto then increased the Redhawks lead to 10-5 with a service ace and Grimm slammed a kill for a 25-17 third set win by SEMO.
In the fourth set, Berns chipped in four of her eight total kills and Clarke recorded three of her five match kills as Southeast evened the match at 2-2. Kuhlmann added five kills in the fourth set alone.
Montana never relinquished the lead in the fifth set and received six kills from Laramee. Kills from Gearring cut the Grizzlies lead to 5-4 and then 7-5. Southeast took a timeout with the Griz up 10-5 and came within two points in the final set. With a block from Bajare and Clarke to make the score 14-12, Montana called their timeout before Hammer hammered a kill to seal the set at 15-12.
Drake 3, Southeast Missouri 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
The Redhawks struggled offensively in their second match on Friday, hitting a .034 team clip and recording 28 kills in the contest.
The first set was a back and forth affair that featured 13 ties including a 20-20 score line courtesy of a Bajare kill. The Bulldogs rallied off the five final points to take the opening set 25-20. Grimm recorded four of her team-leading seven kills in the first set. Gearring, Berns and Bajare each added two kills in the first set.
Drake then won the second and third sets 25-15 and 25-18. The Bulldogs never trailed in the second set.
Southeast started the third set with a 6-2 edge after back-to-back blocks from Clarke and Bilbruck. Clarke led the team with six blocks and Bilbruck added four more. Drake then went on runs of 5-0 and 6-0 to close out the set and win the match. Kyla Inderski recorded seven kills for the Bulldogs in the final set with four coming down the final stretch.
Grimm also added seven digs. Fornoff and Henkelman each dished out 11 assists. Defensively, Boggetto collected 20 digs.
SEMO faces the Omaha (Nebraska) Mavericks in their Drake Invitational finale tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the Knapp Center.
CHATTANOOGA 3, SIUE 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - SIUE volleyball fell in the opening match of the Scenic City Showdown as host Chattanooga topped the Cougars 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 at Maclellan Gymnasium.
SIUE dropped to 5-2 with the loss. The Cougars have two games scheduled for Saturday at the tournament. SIUE faces Georgia State at 9 a.m. CT and Jackson State at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Taylor Joens and Ashley Witt led the SIUE offense with 13 kills each. Joens was the team's top blocker with four.
Five players finished in double figures in digs, led by 17 from setter Samantha Knight.
The Cougars were off to a good start against the Mocs, winning the opening set. Emily Harrison accounted for the final two points of the set on a block at 24-19 and a kills at 25-20.
Chattanooga, 6-3, turned around its fortunes in the second set behind five kills from Dani Szczepanski. She finished the match with 12 overall and led all players with a .458 hitting percentage.
Ally Ford paced the Mocs with a match-high 16 kills. Sarah Root added 10.
The Cougars hit .135 for the match as a team while Chattanooga hit .200.
SIUE led 19-16 in the fourth set, looking to send the match to a fifth frame. However, Chattanooga rallied for six straight points to take a 22-19 lead.
MOREHEAD STATE 3, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 0; MOREHEAD STATE 3, TROY 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State opened Friday's doubleheader slate with a 3-0 sweep of South Carolina State. The Eagles (5-3) defeated the Bulldogs (0-4) by scores of 25-19, 25-16, and 25-19.
With freshman standout Taylor Hodges sidelined due to injury, junior Alyssa Cecil picked up the start for Morehead State. The 5-foot-7 Cedar Park, Texas native came away with three service aces in the win.
The Eagles were led once again by Maddie Fella and Olivia Lohmeier. The duo combined for 18 kills, each hitting over .500 on the day.
Freshman Lauren Rokey tied a team-high 10 digs, complemented by seven kills. Jordan Jones, a junior, was second on the team with eight kills.
Morehead State volleyball came up with a season-high 14 blocks, including a season-best seven from freshman middle blocker Olivia Lohmeier, as the Eagles swept Troy 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17) at Wetherby Gym Friday night.
The Eagles concluded a 2-0 day after sweeping South Carolina State earlier in the day. The Eagles are now 6-3.
Lohmeier added seven kills and did not commit an error for a team-best .462 hitting percentage, while junior middle Maddie Fella registered six blocks. Fellow junior middle Jessie Wachtman added five blocks.
Offensively, freshman outside hitter Lauren Rokey smashed 11 kills and produced eight digs.
The Eagles' defense at the net forced the Trojans into just a .077 attack efficiency, including forcing 10 errors and just nine successful kills in the final set.
Morehead State returns to action on Saturday to conclude the Comfort Inn-Vitational. MSU battles Middle Tennessee at Noon ET.
ALABAMA 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0; FURMAN 3, TENNESSEE STATE 2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Tennessee State volleyball team went 1-1 in day one of the Hampton Inn Bama Bash falling 3-0 to Alabama (25-14, 25-20, 26-24), and Furman 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-6).
With a hard-fought match against the Paladins, two Tigers had double-doubles, two Tigers recorded their season-high kills, and the team served 10 aces.
MATCH 1 – ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Senior Katora Roberts led the team in kills (10) facilitated by setter Samantha Beltran who doled out 18 assists. Tiger defense was led by Rachel Henderson’s three blocks and Cherlie Adorno-DeJesus’ 13 digs. In set three, the Tigers recorded 22 digs over the Crimson Tide’s 18.
SET BY SET
First Set: In a sluggish set one, Rachel Henderson broke a six point run with a kill getting the Tigers back in tempo. Combatting a .276 Crimson Tide hitting percentage, Mine Cetinoz recorded her first dig as a Tiger. Unable to come back, the Tigers fell 25-14.
Second Set: Maya Evans recorded the first point of the set. Rachel Henderson put down three blocks, but struggling defensively the Tigers allowed 14 Alabama kills. Alabama takes set two 25-20.
Third Set: Julia Pierson put up the first point for the Tigers in set three. Getting around the Alabama blocks served the Tigers well as TSU recorded 9 kills, but in a back-and-forth set, the Crimson Tide took the lead, and won 25-20.
MATCH 2 – FURMAN PALADINS
Samantha Beltran recorded her third double-double of the season with 49 assists and 14 digs. Julia Pierson records her first double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Rachel Henderson recorded a season high 18 kills. Katora Roberts surpassed her previous career-high kills with 14. On serve receive against the Paladins, the Tigers passed .934%.
TSU served 10 aces.
SET BY SET
First Set: Tigers take the lead early, but relinquished that lead as the Paladins make a 5-0 run. For the remainder of the match TSU and Furman go back-and-forth until Furman takes the match 25-23.
Second Set: Furman goes 3-0 before the Tigers put a point on the board after a kill by Julia Pierson. In set two, Henderson recorded seven kills, followed by Pierson with 4. TSU takes set two 25-23.
Third Set: After a 3-0 lead, the Tigers trail for the rest of the set, Furman takes it 25-17.
Fourth Set: With four aces in the fourth set, the Tigers had the serving advantage. Plus three blocks and 4 kills by Pierson, the Tigers fought hard in the back-and-forth set. Tigers go into extra points to win, 27-25.
Fifth Set: Tigers trail the first half of the final set, before newcomer Sydney Swann records the first kill for TSU. Tennessee State puts up five more points, eventually falling to Furman 15-6.
The Tigers continue play in the Hampton Inn Bama Bash Sept. 9 against the Hofstra Pride at 2 p.m.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, MERCER 0; AUSTIN PEAY 3, NORTHWESTERN STATE 1
OXFORD, Ala. - Freshman Brooke Moore broke out with a career-high 19 kills, leading Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team to a four-set victory (25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23) against Mercer, Saturday morning at the Ole Miss Classic in the Gillom Sports Center.
Moore posted five kills in each of the sets Austin Peay (7-2) won, opening the match with five kills and a .363 attack percentage in the Govs near wire-to-wire win. She then closed the match with a two kills in Austin Peay’s 5-0 fourth-set clinching win.
After the Govs won the first set nearly wire-to-wire, they threatened to run away and hide in the second set, building a seven points, 15-8 lead. Mercer (3-4) battled back with a 10-2 run to get within a point, 18-17. The Bears would eventually tie the set at 22-22, but could not gain the lead as Moore supplied two kills and Logan Carger another as part of a closing 3-1 run.
Mercer returned the favor in the third, fending off Austin Peay at 4-4 and then using a 7-0 run to break out to a 17-10 lead. The Govs were unable to close that gap as Mercer closed with a 8-6 run en route to the 25-16 win.
The final set was a back-and-forth affair with the teams battling through 10 ties and six lead changes. Mercer got right up to the brink of forcing a fifth set with Danielle Fuast’s kill at 23-20. But Moore had two kills and Christina White and Ashley Slay each chipped in another as part of a 5-0 match-winning run.
In addition to her kills, Moore chipped in 12 digs for her second career double-double. Carger added nine kills off the bench while Slay had eight kills, two service aces and four blocks.
Four Mercer hitters reached double-digit kill territory, Megan MacGilvary leading the way with 13 kills. The Bears finished with 52 kills.
Logan Carger posted a season-best 14 kills to lead Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team to a five-set victory (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 16-25, 15-10) against Northwestern State, Friday, in their final match of the Ole Miss Classic at Gillom Sports Center.
Austin Peay (8-2) had its hands full with Northwestern State throughout the match. In the opening set, the Governors fended off a five-point Lady Demons run at the midway mark that trimmed the lead to one point, 15-14. APSU closed the set with a 4-1 run thanks to kills by Carger, Christina White and Brooke Moore as well as a block by setter Kristen Stucker.
The Governors had a four-point lead, 16-12, in the second but again Northwestern State (3-6) rallied from the deficit and tied the set, 22-22. Austin Peay scored the next point to hold the lead momentarily but NWSU scored the final four points to claim the set and tie the match.
The third and fourth sets featured wire-to-wire wins by each team. Austin Peay gained control in the third set early and slowly expanded that lead before posting the 25-18 win.
Northwestern State returned the favor in the fourth, grabbing the lead on the set’s third point and not looking back, winning 25-16 to force the decisive fifth set.
Austin Peay gained control of the tiebreaker set with a 5-0 run that broke a 4-4 tie. Carger had two kills in what proved to be the decisive run with Stucker tacking on a block. Senior Ashley Slay knocked down a kill to secure the Governors victory.
Carger’s 14-kill effort was one shy of her career high and saw her post a .478 attack percentage. Slay also had 14 kills and two blocks. Moore chipped in her second straight double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.
Hannah Brister led the Lady Demons with 14 kills and a .619 attack percentage. Kourtney Seaton added 13 kills.
Austin Peay returns home to prepare for next weekend’s Dolphin Invitational, Friday-Saturday, hosted by Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, ALCORN STATE 0
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time this season, the Jacksonville State volleyball team reeled off a pair of 3-0 sweeps in the opening day of the Jefferson's/State Farms Invitational at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
The Gamecocks (8-3) downed North Carolina A&T (25-15, 25-20, 25-12) in the morning match, before return in the day's finale to top the Lady Braves of Alcorn State for the second time this season.
Senior Allyson Zuhlke shined against the A&T Aggies with 14 kills and no errors for a .700 percentage. The Tomball, Texas, native finished the day with 24 kills as the only Gamecock in double figures both matches. Senior Charis Ludtke recorded 19 kills on the day as she edges closer to a milestone mark.
Against N.C. A&T, three Gamecocks had at least eight digs in a balanced defensive effort led by freshman Madison Cooler with nine. Cooler later matched her career high with eight kills in the nightcap against Alcorn State. Kaylie Frear came off the bench against A&T to post four kills and a pair of blocks.
An offense which hit above .300 all day was paced by 56 assists from senior setter Jennifer Hart. Across the net, senior libero Hannah Kirk had 17 digs.
Head coach Terry Gamble spread the action among all 16 Gamecocks on Friday. Redshirt-freshman Kennedy Powell made her long-awaited Gamecock debut against ASU as Jax State never allowed more than 12 points by the visiting Lady Braves. Sophomore Maddie Cloutier collected a trio of digs along the back row in both contests, while hometown product Ashley Clingan added four digs.
JSU will return to action tomorrow with an 11:30 first serve against Mississippi Valley, and will conclude the tournament with a 4:30 matchup with UL-Monroe at The Pete.