SATURDAY'S SCORES
Memphis 3,
@Eastern Illinois 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-21)
Drake 3,
@Eastern Illinois 1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 27-25)
Southeast Missouri 3, Jacksonville 1 (24-26, 26-24, 25-21, 25-22)
@Missouri State 3,
Southeast Missouri 1 (25-23, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15)
Charlotte 3,
Eastern Kentucky 1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-22)
IUPUI 3,
Murray State 2 (25-23, 29-27, 19-25, 26-24, 15-9)
South Dakota 3,
Murray State 0
Morehead State 3, Davidson 2 (25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-11)
Arkansas State 3,
Belmont 0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-17)
Kansas State 3,
Austin Peay 1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-10, 25-23)
Maryland 3,
Austin Peay 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-15)
Indiana 3,
UT Martin 0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-21)
UT Martin 3, FIU 1 (25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 23-25)
SIUE 3, Fairleigh Dickinson 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17)
New Mexico State 3,
Tennessee State 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20)
@Jacksonville State 3, Southeastern Louisiana 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-20)
Michigan 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-16)
CHARLOTTE 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky University’s volleyball team won the first set, but Charlotte won the next three to pick up a 3-1 win on the final day of the Charlotte Invitational.
The 49ers won by scores of 21-25, 25-12, 25-19 and 25-22.
Eastern Kentucky freshman Abby Noll finished off her first weekend of collegiate volleyball by recording a match-best 14 kills, hitting .222 and adding 12 digs. The Fort Mitchell, Kentucky native was one of seven players chosen to the Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Newcomer Dena Tekavec had a team-best 20 digs for EKU (1-2). Rachel Woody contributed 29 assists and 18 digs.
As a team, the Colonels were held to a .032 attack percentage and just one ace. Charlotte hit .153 and held an 11-6 edge in blocks.
Tyra Galloway led the 49ers with 11 kills and a .458 attack percentage. She did not commit an error in 24 attempts. Sydney Rowan had 10 kills. Yumi Garcia led all players with 30 digs.
Eastern will play three matches at the UNC Asheville Tournament next weekend beginning against UNCA at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
IUPUI 3, MURRAY STATE 2; SOUTH DAKOTA 3, MURRAY STATE 0
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Murray State volleyball team wrapped up their weekend at IUPUI Saturday, taking on the host Jaguars before battling the Coyotes of South Dakota. The Racers went the distance with IUPUI but ultimately fell in five sets before dropping a three-set match to South Dakota.
For her efforts this weekend, which included 61 kills and 39 digs, Rachel Giustino was named to the All-Tournament team.
Against IUPUI, Giustino led the Racers with 28 kills and 15 digs while Ashley McBee dished out 52 assists. Rachel Holthaus also contributed with 16 kills.
The first set was tightly contested most of the way until IUPUI went on a 4-0 run to take a 24-21 lead. The Racers won two straight points to get within one, but the Jaguars put the set away with a kill on the next point.
MSU jumped out in front early in the second set and held the lead until the Jaguars won four straight points to take a 19-18 lead. The Racers responded and had set point at 24-23 and 25-24, but were unable to put it away which allowed IUPUI to eventually win the set, 29-27.
The Racers started off fast in the third set and this time made it stick. Up 13-10, MSU won three straight points on two kills by Giustino and a block by McBee and Megan Lindsay to gain some cushion. The Racers continued to hold a comfortable lead until finally winning the set, 25-19, on a service error by the Jaguars.
In the fourth set, Murray State jumped out again to a quick 5-1 lead, but IUPUI answered quickly to tie the game at nine. Neither team was able to pull away, but the Racers won consecutive points when it mattered most as Giustino had a kill and a service ace to end the set and win it 26-24.
The fifth set started off tight until the Jaguars went on a 5-0 run to take a 10-4 lead. With the set only going to 15, it proved to be too much of a hill to climb as the Racers dropped the set, 15-9.
Against South Dakota, Giustino had nine kills and McBee had 16 assists while Holthaus had nine digs and two blocks on defense.
The Coyotes jumped out to early leads in all three sets and held on in all three to win the match comfortably.
Murray State will be back in action next weekend at the Troy Invitational. They will take on Chattanooga and Jacksonville on Friday before taking on the host Trojans on Saturday.
MORHEAED STATE 3, DAVIDSON 2
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Career-best efforts from several players pushed Morehead State volleyball past Davidson Saturday morning. The Eagles (2-1) outlasted the Wildcats (0-2) in a five-set affair, taking the match with set scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, and 15-11.
Leading the numerous career-bests for Morehead State was junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey. Rokey slammed home a career-high 22 kills on 38 swings. She committed just two errors to swing an outstanding .526 from the outside.
Additional career-high kill totals dotted the box score as sophomore middle blocker Hannah Keating tied her career-best mark with 14 kills while freshman outside hitter Abby Hulsman notched the first six kills of her career. Keating finished the match with a .455 hitting percentage out of the middle while Hulsman connected at a .385 clip.
Also in double-figures for Morehead State were junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier who registered 14 kills while sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen added 10 of her own.
Directing the offense, freshman setter Bridget Bessler passed out 50 helpers across the final four sets. Bessler's career-high assist total marks the most assists in a match for a true freshman since 2013 when Bailey Nichol passed out 47 assists against Austin Peay. Bessler took the reins of offense following the first set, a set which saw redshirt junior Chandler Clark dish out 12 assists.
Defensively, Morehead State had four back row players collect 10 or more digs for the second time this season. Sophomore libero Allison Whitten once again reached double-figures, pacing the backline with 18 digs. Also in double-digits were redshirt sophomore Taylor Hodges (14), redshirt senior Danielle McCarson (13), and sophomore Olivia Montelisciani (12).
At the net, Morehead State held Davidson to just a .193 hitting percentage, deterring eight total shots. A trio of Eagles collected three total blocks apiece with Keating, Rokey, and Swearingen leading the team. Bessler, Hulsman, and Lohmeier would also add a block apiece for the Eagles.
In the service game, Morehead State eclipsed last season's single-match high in service aces as the team landed 13 aces. Montelisciani led the match with six service aces—a career-high and the most by an Eagle in a match since 2016.
Following the season's opening weekend, Morehead State returns home to host the 2019 Eagle Challenge. The Eagles host Presbyterian, Georgia State, and Providence in the two-day event. First serve for all three Morehead State matches are set for 11 a.m. ET and 7 p.m. Friday (Presbyterian and Georgia State) and 12 p.m. Saturday (Providence).
ARKANSAS STATE 3, BELMONT 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Hard fought comebacks in every set fell just shy of sealing the win for Belmont Volleyball on Saturday afternoon in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (0-3) were held off by Arkansas State (2-1) on the final day of the Bruiser Showcase.
The teams traded points to open the first stanza before Belmont exploded for a 6-0 run to pull ahead, 11-8. The flurry forced Arkansas State to call its first timeout of the set. The Red Wolves surged to knot the score four times through the midpoint of the set, remaining hot on BU's heels. With the score tied 18-18, the Red Wolves made their move, going on a 7-2 run to stand at match point. ASU was able to use a BU error to secure the 25-19 win.
The second frame was just as hotly contested as the first. After a few scoring stalemates, the Bruins pulled away before hitting the midpoint of the set. Aided by some strong blocking at the net by senior Huntir Bass (Mobile, Ala.), freshman Kailee Bass (Aurora, Ill.) and sophomore Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.), BU grew its lead to 15-9 going into the media timeout.
The Red Wolves worked hard to close the scoring gap and remained within striking distance down the stretch, going on to tie the score at 19, pushing Belmont to call for a break in the action. ASU refused to let up over the final points, whittling the Bruin lead down to one point before overtaking the lead. ASU posted the last 3 points of the frame to win 25-22.
After the break, a sluggish start for BU saw the Red Wolves jump out to an 11-4 lead. The home team called for a timeout to regroup and slowly began chipping away at the Arkansas State lead. With the help of a series of ASU attack errors and a dramatic kill by sophomore Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.), Belmont was able to move to within five, 20-15. Unfortunately, two more kills from the outside hitter would not be enough as the Red Wolves took the final set, 25-17.
For the day, Floyd led the Bruins with 10 kills and picked up a double-double with 11 digs. Sophomore Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.) and junior Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) tallied 14 and 13 assists, respectively. Sophomore Faith Cobaugh (Union, Ky.) and Floyd added 16 digs. Freshman Kailee Bass notched a match-high six block assists, while Huntir Bass and Ball each added five in the effort.
For her efforts over the two days, Ball was named to the Bruiser Showcase All Tournament Team.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday evening in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host Alabama A&M for a match beginning at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available and the contest can be seen live on ESPN+.
KANSAS STATE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 1; MARYLAND 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior Brooke Moore finished the day with 18 kills and junior Jenna Panning added 16 kills but Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team ended its stay at the Wolfpack Invitational by falling in four sets to Kansas State (17-25, 25-18, 10-25, 23-25) and three sets to Maryland (20-25, 19-25, 15-25), Saturday, at Reynolds Coliseum.
In the day’s first match, Austin Peay (0-3) went toe-to-toe with Kansas State, winning the second set and nearly pushing the match to five sets. After dropping the first set, the Govs would use a 5-0 run midway through the second set to take a 13-12 lead. A few points later, Austin Peay pieced together another 4-0 run, including a Chloe Stitt kill that gave it the lead for good at 15-14. Stitt would later seal the Set 2 win with a kill.
Kansas State powered its way to a Set 3 win in near wire-to-wire fashion but Austin Peay bounced back in the fourth set. The Govs scored the first three points of the frame and raced out to a 7-2 lead. Austin Peay would ultimately build an 11-5 advantage before Kansas State started to reel the set back to level, which they did at 17-17. KSU built a 19-17 lead only to watch APSU score four of the next five to lead 21-20. But the Wildcats took control with the set’s next three points and held on to win the match in four sets.
Austin Peay then faced off against Maryland in the second half of the day’s twinbill. The Govs tested the Terrapins in each of the first two sets. In the opening frame, Austin Peay rallied from a five-point deficit at 19-14 to get within a point at 20-19, Maryland needing three consecutive points to fend off the rally to claim the set. In the second, the Terrapins raced out to a 7-1 lead only to see the Govs tie the set at 13-13. Again Maryland needed a 7-0 run to break the set open and take a 2-0 lead.
The length of the day appeared to take its toll on the Governors in the third set. Maryland opened with a 5-1 lead but Austin Peay could get no closer than two points the rest of the way. An 8-0 Terrapins run later in the frame extended the lead to 11 points and the Govs could not recover in time.
Moore scored a double-double in the Kansas State contest, finishing with 12 kills and 13 digs – both match bests. Chloe Stitt also had 11 kills against the Wildcats.
Panning led the way against Maryland with 10 kills with Moore chipping in six kills and Stitt another five.
Austin Peay returns home to begin preparation for next weekend’s trip to Evanston, Illinois for the Wildcats Invitational hosted by Northwestern. There the Govs will face the host Wildcats along with Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech.
INDIANA 3, UT MARTIN 0; UT MARTIN 3, FIU 1
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team earned its first victory of the young 2019 campaign this afternoon, defeating FIU by a 3-1 margin (25-17, 25-14, 22-25, 25-23) to close out the Indiana Invitational. Earlier in the day, the Skyhawks fell by a 3-0 margin to host Indiana (18-25, 13-25, 21-25).
On the day, Jessica Reynolds piled up a team-best 23 kills (3.29 per set) while Gintare Mackeviciute posted a .361 hitting percentage on 36 swings. Kenzie Hinshaw distributed 62 assists (8.86 per set) and also led the way with 22 digs (3.14 per set). Mackeviciute and Justine Walker accumulated nine blocks apiece (1.29 per set) to lead UT Martin at the net.
Mackeviciute was named to the Indiana Invitational all-tournament team after a stellar two days of performances. The senior middle blocker out of Jonava, Lithuania tallied 26 kills (2.40 per set) on a .324 attack percentage while also pitching in 15 blocks (1.00 per set) over the first four matches of the season.
The Skyhawks resume the 2019 slate next weekend when they make the short trip to Bluff City for the Memphis Invitational. UT Martin will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Gardner-Webb on Friday, Sept. 6 before facing host Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Indiana
The Skyhawks squared off against the Big Ten Conference Hoosiers this morning but could not find any momentum in a 3-0 setback.
A kill by Walker got UT Martin going in the first set but Indiana quickly opened up a 6-1 advantage. Reynolds followed with a kill and a service ace before back-to-back kills by Hinshaw and Hannah Phillips closed the Skyhawk deficit to 7-6. The Hoosiers were able to stretch their lead back out to five points late but Mackeviciute generated back-to-back kills to ignite a 3-0 surge. After UT Martin pulled within two points at 18-16, Indiana was able to end the set on a 7-2 run.
Reynolds (kill) and Phillips/Walker (assisted block) helped the Skyhawks race out to an early advantage in the second stanza. The Hoosiers responded with a 7-1 run before Mackeviciute and Reynolds went on a tear, combining for five kills in the span of five UT Martin points to make the score 11-7. However, Indiana would soon score five unanswered points and the Skyhawks could not dig themselves out of the hole.
The third set started off strongly for UT Martin, as Reynolds generated back-to-back kills before a Phillips kill made the score 5-4 in favor of the Skyhawks. The Hoosiers replied with six straight points on their way to a 9-1 run. UT Martin kept fighting, unreeling five unanswered points that included kills by Jamie Rys and Reynolds. After Indiana led by a 23-16 margin, the Skyhawks closed the gap to three points after Mackeviciute slammed down back-to-back kills but the comeback attempt was too late.
FIU
UT Martin displayed a lethal offensive performance as the Skyhawks hit .295 as a team in a four-set triumph over FIU. Hinshaw was a big part of UT Martin’s victory as the junior boasted her 25th career double-double with 34 assists and 16 digs to go along with three service aces, three kills and two blocks.
The Skyhawks gained the upper hand in the first set thanks to a late surge. Four different UT Martin players were responsible for the Skyhawks’ first four kills of the match but the Panthers managed to take a 10-8 lead. Back-to-back service aces by Hinshaw were included during a 7-1 UT Martin run. Addison Conley powered through for a pair of big kills in the latter stages of the stanza to help the Skyhawks take the early momentum.
UT Martin took a 2-0 advantage in the match after committing just one attack error in 30 attempts in the second set. The trio of Phillips, Conley and Mackeviciute joined forces for three straight kills to snap an early 4-4 tie. Reynolds joined in with a big kill to start an 11-4 run that wrapped up the set for the Skyhawks, as UT Martin accounted for each of the final six points of the stanza.
The Skyhawks carried that momentum into the third set before FIU was able to force a fourth set. Karen Scanlon accumulated three kills as UT Martin built up a 7-2 advantage but the Panthers would soon piece together an 8-1 run to go on top by a 13-11 margin. The Skyhawks battled back to go ahead 17-16 but FIU responded with a 7-2 run on its way to the set win.
Reynolds boasted a pair of kills and a block assist as part of an early 4-0 run for UT Martin in the fourth set. The Panthers took a 9-8 lead but Mackeviciute took over, compiling three kills in the span of four Skyhawk points. FIU later took a 19-18 advantage but that was the last time that UT Martin would trail as Walker came away with a pair of kills down the stretch – including the match winner.
SIUE 3, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 0
DEKALB, Ill.— The Cougars swept the Knights of Fairleigh Dickerson on Saturday 25-18, 25-20 and 25-17.
Ellis assisted the team by tallying nine kills and Fields added eight. McDonald recorded a double-double for the Cougars with 12 kills and 12 digs. Otte added nine kills and nine digs as well to the Cougars victory.
The Cougars went 2-1 overall at the Northern Illinois University Tournament to improve their record to 2-1 as well. McDonald and Otte also received All-Tournament honors this past weekend.
The Cougars will be back in action next Friday at the Saluki Bash in Carbondale, Illinois where they will take on Southeastern Louisiana in the first match at 10 a.m.
NEW MEXICO STATE 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
AUBURN, Ala. - The Tigers were coming off a high from beating Auburn and a loss against Butler on day one of the War Eagle Invitational. The final match of the Invitational was against New Mexico State at 11 a.m. on Aug. 31. New Mexico State won the match 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20).
Aria Holmes, Jasmine Fuqua and Aniya Williams made offenseive impacts with six kills each to help the Tigers. Gina Rivera-Ortiz makes her way to 600 career digs with 14 more added. Eight more and she will reach the huge milestone.
SET ONE- Frist point of the set was awarded to TSU with a kill from Kiara Hill. Kill from NMSU and an attack error on Tennessee State put New Mexico ahead. Kills from Jasmine Fuqua and Aria Holmes are keeping TSU in the game. The Tigers offense, with two more kills from Teuila Lolotai and Aniya Williams, tied up the set. New Mexico's offsense challenged TSU's defense, but the Tigers pushed back staying in the game. A block assist from Hill and Williams tied the set up again, the Tigers dug deep for this strength. Breaking through NMSU's offense with her third kill, Holmes and the Tigers started finding it's grove. Still behind and looking for a side out, Kariely Santana-Delgado kept the Tigers in play with her second kill of the set. An attack error on NMSU gave the Tigers a fighting chance, but New Meixco took the first set 25-22.
SET TWO- A kill from Fuqua, a block assist from Kendall Bullock and Williams and an error on NMSU put Tennessee State on the board early. Staying on top with an attack error by NMSU and another kill for Kiara Hill, the Tigers racked up the points. NMSU fought back with a kill from Megan Hart and a solid New Mexico block tied the set up, but an attack error put the Tigers back on top. With a kill for Ashley Anselmo and an attack error on Williams, NMSU passed TSU up on the board. Amiyah King tied up the game with an ace for TSU. NMSU's offense stayed strong and sailed ahead, taking the second set 25-20.
SET THREE- NMSU came out hungry for points, racking up a 4 point lead before TSU could get on the board with a kill from Santana-Delgado. Fuqua with her third kill of the match keeps TSU right behind NMSU, an ace from Gina Rivera-Ortiz tied the set. With points flying back and forth over the net, the Tigers fell to trail by four. New Mexico State's offense racked up an eight point lead before TSU's Holmes and Fuqua scored with kills. The Tigers were relentless, hustling hard to the ball to stay in this set. Despite the Tigers efforts and a tough NMSU offense, New Mexico State took the third set 25-20.
Tennessee State will host Chattanooga in Kean Hall on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.
MICHIGAN 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles closed out competition in the Michigan Invitational on Saturday, falling to the No. 15-ranked Wolverines in straight sets.
Dorsey led the Golden Eagles offense hitting a stellar .583 and tying for a match-high eight kills. Sophomore Madeline Furtado followed up with five kills. Defensively, Carly Skrabak held down the back line, garnering a match-high 11 digs over the three-set affair.
The opening frame was back-and-forth battle that contained 15 ties through an 18-18 game. A Michigan attack error and a pair of kill from sophomore Taylor Dorsey gave the Golden Eagles the 21-19 advantage, but the Wolverines responded with seven straight points to close out the set, 25-21.
Tech and Michigan traded 1-2 runs remain even at 3-3 to open the second. Michigan scored four unanswered, but the Golden Eagles quickly responded point for point to keep the deficit to three, 11-8. However, the Wolverines broke away after that as they outscored Tech by 10, 14-4, to take a take the 2-0 lead.
Michigan took the early lead in the third set, 5-2, but numerous Michigan errors, a huge block from Dorsey and freshman Morgan Gish, as well as a kill from junior Ali Verzani knotted up the game at 8. The game remained even at 10 and 12, but the Wolverines would clinch the third on a 13-4 run to seal the match.
The Golden Eagles will be back in action next Friday, September 6 as they make the trip up to Louisville, Kentucky for the Fleur de Lis Tournament to take on Louisville, Arizona State, and Western Kentucky.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 0
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State picked up its first win of the season on Saturday with a 3-0 sweep of Southeastern Louisiana.
Sophomore Lena Kindermann had her third-straight match with double-digit kills to open the year with a team-high 13 on a .632 clip against SLU. The second-year Gamecock from Germany was named to the All-Tournament after a standout offensive weekend. Kaylie Milton finished with nine kills, while Kaylee FRear and Sadie Anderson each put down eight attacks against the Lions.
Junior Lexie Libs directed the offensive attack with 35 assists. On the opposite end of the floor, junior Dani Steele's 10 digs led the way defensively as JSU needed just 38 total digs against an opponent that hit .167 across the three frames.
The Gamecocks (1-2) pulled away in the first set as a pair of Kindermann kills broke a 17-17 tie, and sparked an 8-2 run for JSU to win 25-19. JSU built an 18-12 cushion in the second set, but saw the Lions mounts a late rally to cut to deficit to 21-19, before a kill from Milton closed the door on any late comeback.
Jax State completed the sweep with a 25-20 result in the third after leading the frame wire-to-wire.
The Gamecocks will return home in two weeks to host the Gamecock Classic with Stetson, Sam Houston State and Mississippi State on September 13-14, but will travel down to Birmingham in the week between for the Samford Invite.