FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 3, Presbyterian 0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-18)
@Morehaed State 3, Georgia State 0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-18)
@Bradley 3,
Belmont 0 (25-11, 25-22, 25-18)
DePaul 3,
Belmont 1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18)
@Southeast Missouri 3, Jackson State 0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-18)
@Southeast Missouri 3, Western Illinois 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21)
Murray State 3, Chattanooga 1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-8)
Murray State 3, Jacksonville 2 (27-25, 25-14, 25-22, 21-25, 16-14)
@Central Michigan 3,
Eastern Illinois 0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21)
UIC 3,
Eastern Illinois 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-20)
@Northwestern 3,
Austin Peay 1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 25-14)
Stephen F. Austin 3,
Austin Peay 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-12)
UAB 3,
Jacksonville State 1 (25-19, 25-15, 24-26, 30-28)
SIUE 3, Southeastern Louisiana 2 (25-16, 15-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12)
SIUE 3, @Southern Illinois 1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17)
@#24 Louisville 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-15)
Arizona State 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-15)
UT Martin 3, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1 (25-13, 25-14, 24-26, 25-18)
UT Martin 3, Gardner Webb 1 (25-11, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17)
@South Alabama 3,
Tennessee State 2 (25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-10)
Tennessee State 3, Mississippi Valley State 0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-14)
@UNC Asheville 3,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17)
MOREHEAD STATE 3, PRESBYTERIAN 0; MOREHEAD STATE 3, GEORGIA STATE 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Christening a new nest, Morehead State volleyball began play in their new arena with a bang. The Eagles (4-1) opened play in Johnson Arena with a pair of straight-set victories, sweeping both Presbyterian (1-4) and Georgia State (3-2) Friday.
MOREHEAD STATE 3, PRESBYTERIAN 0
Morehead State opened play Friday morning, sweeping Presbyterian in the opening match of the 2019 Eagle Challenge. The Eagles outlasted the Blue Hose in the first two sets, taking the games 27-25 and 25-23 before taking the final set 25-18.
The offensive shined in the match, racking up 18 kills in each set, tallying 54 kills in the match. Morehead State picked up the 54 kills on 125 swings, hitting .248 for the match. The Eagle setters also picked up 52 assists in the match, good for a .963 assist percentage.
Junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier paced the match, slamming home a match-best 18 kills. The total extends her streak of reaching double-figure, having done so in 16 consecutive matches. Fellow junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey tallied 14 kills while sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen added 10 to comprise the Morehead State double-digit contingent.
The trio also helped the Eagles record 12 total blocks in the match. Swearingen led the group, notching a career-best seven total blocks, including a pair of solo blocks. Lohmeier added five with Rokey and sophomore middle blocker Hannah Keating adding four apiece.
On the back-line, Morehead State recorded 56 digs in the match as sophomores Allison Whitten and Olivia Montelisciani collected double-figure balls. Whitten led the Eagles with 13 digs while Montelisciani added 12. Freshman defensive specialist Andrea Grimes nabbed a career-high seven digs in the match.
Freshman setter Bridget Bessler averaged 15.5 assists per set, handing out 31 helpers in the match. In just one set of action, redshirt junior Chandler Clark passed out 17 assists, combining with Bessler to help Morehead State average 17.3 assists per set for the match.
MOREHEAD STATE 3, GEORGIA STATE 0
In the finale of the opening day of the Eagle Challenge, Morehead State used a relentless and balanced attack to turn back Georgia State in straight sets. The Eagles took the three sets, 25-14, 25-19, and 25-8.
The Eagles balance began in the service game as the Eagles landed 11 aces on the night. Sophomore libero Allison Whitten fashioned her jump serve to land a career-high five aces while redshirt senior Danielle McCarson (three), redshirt junior setter Chandler Clark, junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier, and sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani (one apiece) added aces.
Offensively, Lohmeier reached double-figures for the 17 straight match—the only player in double-figures in the match. She committed just two errors, hitting .400 for the night. Sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen (eight), junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey (seven), sophomore middle blocker Hannah Keating (five), Clark (three), redshirt junior outside hitter Liz Allen (two), and freshman outside hitters Abby Hulsman and Peyton Kennedy (one) tallied terminations.
Kennedy's kill—late in the third set—was the first of her Morehead State career.
Defensively, Whitten reached double-digit digs for the 25th consecutive match, tallying a match-high 18 digs. Just behind Whitten were Montelisciani and redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Hodges, who recorded eight and five digs, respectively. The Eagles also added four total blocks, paced by Swearingen and Rokey, who combined for three of the team's four blocks with Swearingen also adding a solo block.
Morehead State returns to the court Saturday for its final match of the Eagle Challenge. The Eagles take on Providence (3-2) tomorrow at Johnson Arena with first serve set for noon.
BRADLEY 3, BELMONT 0; DEPAUL 3, BELMONT 1
PEORIA, Ill. - Despite strong comebacks late, Belmont Volleyball (1-5) was unable to overcome slow starts on the first day of the CEFCU Invitational. The Bruins were held off 3-0 by host-Bradley (1-3) before going to extra sets before falling to DePaul (4-1), 3-1.
After trading points to open the first meeting between the programs since 2005, it was the Braves who was first to put distance between the teams, going up 9-4. Belmont called for a timeout to regroup and looked for a way to build offensive rhythm. Bradley rolled off 10 consecutive points to take a commanding lead and did not look back. Belmont called timeout, trailing by double digits and saw junior MacKenzie Harless (Brownsburg, Ind.) knock down a hard kill right after the break, hoping to spark a rally. However, the Braves were able to hold on for the 25-11 win.
Belmont looked to rebound in the second frame but another slow point build at the start saw the Bruins call the first timeout. The Bruins used a 3-0 run to close the set to a three-point differential, 9-6, capped with a service ace by sophomore Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.). Through the midpoint of the set, sophomore Faith Cobaugh (Union, Ky.) made some great defensive saves to keep the Bruins in the action. Belmont closed the gap to four points, 17-13. Suddenly, the Bruins exploded behind back-to-back attacks by junior Mackenzie LePage (Franklin, Tenn.) that helped to close the gap to just two points, 18-16. The sudden flurry forced a stunned Bradley to call its first timeout of the contest. The visitors were able to repeat the feat again, using a 4-0 run to close the gap to two points, 22-20, forcing the Braves to burn their final timeout of the set. However, Bradley was able to rally for the final handful of points to take the set, 25-22.
The third set saw the Braves quickly take a five-point lead, 11-6, but the Bruins began cooking a slow rally to stay in the contest. Freshman Lauren Walsh (Torrance, Calif.) knocked down a couple of crucial kills that helped keep Belmont in striking distance down the stretch. The Bruins called for their final timeout, trailing by eight points but it was not enough as Bradley took the final frame, 25-18.
For the match, Belmont was led in kills by sophomores Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.) and Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.), who each recorded five. Mason tallied 17 assists in the effort. Cobaugh and Mason both posted 11 digs. Freshman Kailee Bass (Aurora, Ill.) notched a solo block and a match-high six block assists.
BU faced off against DePaul in the evening session and got off to a hot start. Belmont used a 5-0 run, including a pair of service aces by Ball, to take the lead but the Blue Demons fired back with a duplicate effort and took a 10-8 lead. After the quick change of fortune, the Bruins called for a break in the action and quickly recovered, knotting the score at 18, thanks to kills by Ball, Kailee Bass and Floyd. The teams in their first meeting since 2005 traded points until DePaul took a slim 20-19 lead. BU called for its second timeout before coming out swinging, forcing four scoring stalemates. Consecutive errors by the Blue Demons was enough to lift Belmont to a 24-22 advantage. However, the score would continue to be tied as extra points would be needed to decide the frame. DU finally emerged as the winner, 27-25.
The Bruins opened the second stanza with a flurry of points to take a quick 5-3 lead behind kills from Walsh and Ball. The Blue Demons rallied behind a 6-0 run to grab its first lead of the frame, 10-6, but BU continued to battle back. With the help of back-to-back service aces by junior Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas), Belmont pulled to within one point, 13-12, pushing DU to call timeout. BU stayed within two points through the midpoint of the set before the Blue Demons blew their lead back up to four points, 20-16. DePaul was able to maintain the four-point differential down the stretch and hold on for the 25-21 win.
Belmont jumped out to hot start to open the third frame before the Blue Demons were able to knot the score and surge to take the lead, 11-7. The Bruins were forced to burn a timeout to reset, hustling to pull within striking distance. BU put together a 4-0 run to pull within two, 18-16, pushing DePaul to call for a timeout. Belmont did not let up and went on to take the lead 19-17 before the score was stalemated once again. DePaul continued its slow creep towards set point and rallied late to pull ahead, 24-21, forcing BU to call for timeout. However, the Bruins were unable to keep the Blue Demons from adding one more point as they went on to take the set, 25-21.
The Blue Demons rolled off five consecutive points to open the fourth set before BU recorded its first. The Bruins slowly combined DePaul errors and a 3-0 run to steadily chip away at the point differential, inching as close as four, 18-14. DU continued its rally and crossed the 20-point threshold with the help of late kills. The Bruins calls for a break in the action, hoping to snap a scoring flurry but DePaul went on to add four points that put it ahead, 22-15. Despite a pair of late kills by Ball, the Blue Demons were able to push on for the 25-18 win.
For the contest, Ball picked up her second double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 10 digs. Walsh also reached double digits in kills, adding a season-high 11, and added her first collegiate double-double with 11 digs. Mason tallied a match-high 35 assists. Four Bruins reached double digits in digs, led by sophomore Peyton Kelley (Normal, Ill.), who recorded 16, followed by Mason with 13, Walsh's 11, and Ball's 10. Kailee Bass finished with a match-high six block assists.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for the final match of the CEFCU Invitational. The Bruins face off against Oakland with first serve set for 10:30 a.m.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, JACKSON STATE 0; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (3-2) registered a pair of 3-0 sweeps to open its 2019 Redhawks Invitational Friday at Houck Field House.
In the lunchtime match, Southeast bested Jackson State (3-3), 25-10, 25-11, 25-18 in front of 814 fans that primarily consisted of students from Cape Central Middle School. The Redhawks earned their second 3-0 sweep of 2019 with a 25-19, 25-17, 25-21 decision on Western Illinois (2-3) in the nightcap.
In the opener, Southeast swept Jackson State on a .333 hitting clip behind a .455 first set. Laney Malloy led the offense with 15 kills, tallying five per set.
The Redhawks jumped out to a 10-3 advantage in the first set after a 4-0 run that featured a block assist from Krista Berns and Colby Greene bookended by a Malloy kill and a Tara Beilsmith ace.
Southeast posted four of its eight total blocks in the opening set.
Kills from Berns and Claire Ochs coupled with a bad set by the Tiger pushed the advantage to 16-6 and forced a second JSU timeout.
The Tigers came as close as 22-10 before a rally stopper from Colby Greene followed by an Emily Boggetto service ace and a JSU attack error clinched the frame.
Boggetto matched a career best three aces in the match.
In the second set, the Redhawks started fast once again with a 3-0 lead that grew to a 17-7 advantage after an Elissa Moylan and Zoey Beasley block assist along with winners from Wehrheim and Malloy.
Beasley made her Southeast debut in the victory along with Kylie Plant who entered in the third set.
Jackson State cut the lead to 22-11 before kills from Maggie Adams (2) and Ochs sealed the set win at 25-11.
The third set was the most competitive of all the frames as the two teams traded the lead before a 7-0 run distanced the Redhawks from the Tigers, 16-9. Wehrheim (2) and Elissa Moylan each notched kills in the rally.
A kill from Jylen Whitten pulled the Tigers within five, 19-14, before a block assist from Moylan and Kuhlmann completed the contest.
Ochs dished out 27 assists and 10 digs with five kills for her third double-double of the season.
Beilsmith started at libero in both matches Friday and recorded a personal best 18 digs against JSU. Ally Dion added seven.
The Redhawks continued the momentum Friday evening against WIU, connecting with .351 of their swings.
Greene paced the Redhawks when she matched her personal best 14 kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Wehrheim and Malloy chipped in eight apiece.
In the first set, Southeast was the first team to hit the 10-point plateau after a kill from Berns along with a Leathernecks error, 10-6.
Western Illinois answered with a 4-1 rally to pull within a point, 11-10. SEMO grew its margin in the set to 21-15 on a 3-0 run that featured kills from Ochs and Wehrheim along with a block by Adams.
A kill from JoJo Kruize brought WIU within three, 22-19, before the Redhawks sealed the first set with kills from Greene and Malloy coupled with a Dion service ace.
The second set was the Colby Greene show as the sophomore from North Liberty, Iowa, amassed half of her 14 kills (7) in the middle set while swinging at a .667 clip.
The Leathernecks started the set with an 11-8 advantage with back-to-back kills from Mackenzie Steckler prompting a SEMO timeout.
Out of the break, the Redhawks responded with a massive 6-0 run to pull the lead back in favor of the home side, 14-11. Southeast then increased the distance between the two squads with kills from Malloy, Greene (2) and Adams to make the score 18-12.
Two more kills from Greene combined with an ace from Beilsmith pushed the lead to 22-13 before Kruize cut the advantage to 24-17 with a kill.
The Redhawks then utilized their presence at the net to complete the set, 25-17, with a block assist by Berns and Ochs.
Southeast kept the Leathernecks at bay with a 25-21 third and final set to grab the victory.
Ochs passed out 31 assists while Beilsmith had 14 digs.
The Redhawks will conclude their home tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. against Evansville (1-1) at Houck Field House. The Purple Aces split their two matches Friday afternoon.
MURRAY STATE 3, CHATTANOOGA 1; MURRAY STATE 3, JACKSONVILLE 2
TROY, Ala. - The Murray State volleyball team picked up their first two wins of the season, Friday afternoon at the Troy Invitational by defeating Chattanooga and Jacksonville. They had to come back in both matches as they dropped the first set, but took down the Chattanooga in four sets before going the distance against the Dolphins.
Against the Mocs, Murray State dropped the first set but came back to win the next three, 25-18, 25-18, and 25-8.
Rachel Giustino and Rachel Kinney each had 14 kills while Megan Lindsay chipped in with 10 of her own. Ashley McBee dished out 50 assists, her second 50-assist performance of the young season, while Becca Fernandez led the way on defense with 15 digs. Giustino and McBee also had double-digit digs to record double-doubles.
After dropping the first set, the second set went back and forth with each team trading runs until the Racers ended the set on a 9-2 culminating with a kill by Lindsay.
The third set was close early but Murray State pulled away when they went on an 8-1 run to take a 20-11 lead. The Mocs followed by winning four straight points, but a service error and a kill by Lindsay stopped the run and put the Racers lead back up to 22-15. A couple of points later, Giustino clinched the set with a kill.
The fourth set proved to be one-sided as the Racers jumped out to an early 6-2 lead and never looked back as they hit an astounding .611 with 11 kills and no errors in the set while holding the Mocs to a -.238 percentage.
In the Racers' second match of the day against Jacksonville, MSU again got off to a slow start, dropping the first set. They fell behind 12-5 early in the set, but were able to climb their way back into the set, eventually taking a 20-19 lead. However, after trading points, the Dolphins won two straight to take the set, 29-27.
In the second set, two kills by Kolby McClelland sparked a 5-0 run for the Racers to take a 12-5 lead. Another 5-0 run later in the set expanded the lead to 21-10 before Giustino clinched the set with a kill to win 25-14.
The 5-0 run early in the third set gave the Racers an 8-5 lead which they would not relinquish. The Dolphins got as close as two points, but Murray State held on to win the set, 25-22. The Racers used a balanced attack in the set as they got four kills each from Giustino, Kinney, and Rachel Holthaus, and three from McClelland.
MSU looked like they were going to win the match in the fourth set as they led 19-14, but a 10-0 run by the Dolphins pushed Jacksonville to set point which they eventually won a couple points later.
In the decisive fifth set, the Racers jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but the Dolphins responded and took an 11-10 lead. However, Kinney sandwiched two kills around a JU error to give Murray State a 13-11 lead. The Racers then had match point at 14-12, but two kills by Sydney Bolding tied the set at 14. Finally, the Racers put the match away as Holthaus and Giustino ended it with back-to-back kills.
In the match, Giustino led MSU with 22 kills followed by 13 from Holthaus. McBee dished out 46 assists while Fernandez led the defense with 23 digs.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0; UIC 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Eastern Illinois volleyball lost both matches to open the Central Michigan Chippewa Invitational. EIU fell 3-0 to Central Michigan and 3-0 to UIC. EIU closes out the tournament on Saturday facing North Dakota State at 12 p.m.
Central Michigan 3, Eastern Illinois 0
In the opener Central Michigan beat EIU, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21).
The first set for the Panthers started out slow as Central Michigan got out to a 6-1 lead. After that EIU tried to get there footing but never really could. CMU went on to win the set.
In the second set the Panthers kept it close until 6-6 when EIU pulled ahead to 12-7. The Chippewa's had their own run that put them back on top of the Panthers to win the second set.
In the third set the Panthers got out to an early three point lead led by Ireland Hieb. CMU answered with a nice run. The Panthers could never get back into a rhythm after that allowing the Chippewas to sweep the match.
The Panthers were led by Hieb with eight kills and one block. Laurel Bailey and Kiley Michael both had seven kills. The defense was led by Madison Cunningham with 15 digs.
Kalina Smith led CMU in kills with 13. For the defense, Megan Kern led the team in digs with 15.
UIC 3, EIU 0
UIC beat EIU 3-0 in the final match of the day for the Panthers (25-22, 25-15, 25-20).
In the first set the Panthers got off to a fast start taking a 4-0 lead. UIC came back and took the lead at 13-12. The Flames then went on a 3-0 run late in the first set to jump on top 1-0 in the match.
In the second set both teams were traded attacks until UIC used a 4-0 run to build a 13-9 lead. The Flames kept their foot on the pedal winning the second set by 10 points.
In the third set, EIU went on a 3-0 run to build a 10-7 lead. EIU would extend its lead to 15-10 in the match. UIC rallied late in the match scoring 15 of the last 20 points in the match.
The Panthers were led by Maggie Runge with seven kills and two blocks. Bailey Chandler led the team in assists with 22. On the defensive side, Laurel Bailey led the team in blocks with five.
The Flames were led by Paola Santiago with 11 kills and Marija Borcic with 18 assists.
NORTHWESTERN 3, AUSTIN PEAY 1; STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
EVANSTON, Ill. - Outside hitter Brooke Moore had 31 kills over two matches as Austin Peay State University's volleyball team dropped its first two matches at the NU Under Armour Challenge, Friday. The Governors fell to host Northwestern in four sets (17-25, 25-19, 17-25, 14-25) and Stephen F. Austin in three sets (19-25, 17-25, 12-25)
Against Northwestern, Aysha Hood scored a career-high six kills against the Wildcats, posting a .364 attack percentage.
Karli Graham also posted a season-best six kills against NU with a .267 attack percentage, adding three solo blocks and a service ace to her work in the match.
Kelsey Mead set a career high with 23 assists against the Wildcats, breaking her mark of 21 set against the Kansas State Wildcats last week.
Against Stephen F. Austin, Moore's 13-kill performance was her third double-digit kill performance this season. She ends the day with the Govs top three hitting performances (as ranked by total kills).
Tegan Seyring made her second start this season and recorded five kills against SFA, one shy of her season-high set in a start against Kansas State.
Austin Peay closes its stay in Evanston with a 1 p.m. (CT), Saturday contest against Texas Tech.
UAB 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A late rally wasn't enough as the Jacksonville State volleyball team fell to UAB on Friday night after a late back-and-forth battle that saw two sets go past 25.
Needing to win the fourth to force a decisive fifth set, JSU fought off consecutive match points on kills by Taylor Pribyl and Lena Kindermann. All even at 25, the two sides exchanged intense serves for ties at 25, 26, 27 and 28. The Blazers ultimately outlasted the Gamecocks 30-28 to take a 3-1 match victory.
JSU rebounded to nearly overcome a 2-0 match deficit despite 13 more attack errors, 11 service errors and six aces allowed.
Sophomore Lena Kindermann finished two kills shy of her career high with 19 kills after the extended set play. She led a trio of Gamecocks in double-digits followed by Kaylee Frear with a dozen and Kaylie Milton with 11 put-aways. For Milton, it was her first double-double of the season after collecting 18 digs. Jax State was led along the back row by freshman Erin Carmichael who set a new career high with 19 digs as she moved into the libero role at the start of set two. Junior setter Lexie Libs was one digs shy of a double-double with her 48-assist performance.
JSU let the opening two sets slip away with serving errors and poor service receptions. Following a kill from Kindermann, JSU pulled within three late at 20-17, but the Blazers ended with a 5-2 spirt to solidify the first set. The Gamecocks never got it going in the second, falling behind 4-0 after an Emma Mitchell ace for UAB. JSU called timeout down 9-2, and were able to cleanup some mistakes, but not enough to overcome the early deficit.
Jax State returned from intermission with a new energy and jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Freshman Taylor Pribyl came off the bench for the final two frames, finishing with a kill, service ace, three digs and three blocks. UAB fought back to even the set at 18-19, before a kill by Frear and an ace from Carmichael gave JSU a late two-point lead it was able to hold into extras at 26-24.
The fourth proved to be an even more thrilling adventure as JSU came back from down 15-11, before Kindermann slammed home three kills to tie things up at 17-17. The set would tie at 19, 20 and 21 until UAB faced match point up 24-22 and began the late frenzy.
JSU returns to action on Saturday to face Samford and North Alabama.
LOUISVILLE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0; ARIZONA STATE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tech volleyball fell in both contests against No. 24 Louisville and Arizona State to open the Fleur de Lis Tournament hosted by the University of Louisville at the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena on Friday.
In the tournament opener, junior Ali Verzani led the Golden Eagles with six kills in the match, followed closely by freshman Dallas Oatis, who collected five. Verzani also led the Golden Eagles on the defensive end, tallying a match-high 14 digs in the contest, while freshman Carly Skrabak tallied 12. Sophomore Ashley Hand dished out a match-high 15 assists for the Golden Eagles. Sophomore Madi Furtado would lead Tech in blocks with three, followed by sophomore Taylor Dorsey and Oatis with two apiece.
The Cardinals got out to a quick start as they would take a 6-2 lead, however, the Golden Eagles responded making Louisville commit an attack error, in addition to earning a block and securing a kill from Dorsey to bring the game within one, 6-5. But the Cardinals would take things away once again as they eventually took the 25-14 opening frame.
Tech came out to play to open the second set, tallying three services aces from Verzani and Skrabak, as well as a kill from Verzani and Oatis and a Cardinal service error to take a 6-3 advantage. However, a pair of Louisville kills and a Cardinal service ace would knot things back up at six and then again at eight. The Cardinals gained the lead and would eventually hold a 23-14 advantage, before Tech would outscore the Cardinals 3-2 to close out the set, but Louisville took the two-set advantage heading into the third.
The Golden Eagles would take the early lead again in the third set, taking a 9-6 advantage over Louisville. The Cardinals responded to even the set out at 11. Louisville would maintain the lead before closing the set out on an 8-2 run to take the 25-15 victory and close out the three-set affair.
Sophomore Madi Furtado led the Golden Eagles offensively against Arizona State with 11 kills and hitting .194. Dorsey also had a really great game for Tech as she hit for a match-high .353 and notched eight kills. Hand led Tech with 15 assists and Skrabak held down the back row with 18 digs in the contest.
In the opening frame against Arizona State, the Sun Devils scored six unanswered to take an early 6-0 lead. Tech would then go on a 6-3 run to bring the game back within three, but the Sun Devils maintained control as they would hold off the Golden Eagles on a 13-10 run following a 15-9 Arizona State lead to take the 1-0 lead, 25-22.
The Golden Eagles would trade 2-0 runs with Arizona State to open the second set with a 2-2 tie. However, the Sun Devils would retake the lead and not relinquish it in route to a 25-15 victory and the 2-0 advantage.
Arizona State secured a lead in the third set and would hold on to eventually take the final stanza 25-15 and take the three-set victory.
The Golden Eagles will look to close out the Fleur de Lis Tournament on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. as they take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
UT MARTIN 3, ARKANAS-PINE BLUFF 1; UT MARTIN 3, GARDNER WEBB 1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team extended its winning streak to three matches today thanks to a pair of victories on the opening day of the Memphis Invitational, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff (25-13, 25-14, 24-26, 25-18) and Gardner-Webb (25-11, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17) by identical 3-1 margins.
Hannah Phillips compiled a team-high 18 kills today, committing only three errors in 44 swings for a .341 hitting percentage. Kenzie Hinshaw divvied out 54 assists to go along with 20 digs on the day to help the Skyhawk offense hit .235 on the day with 97 kills over the two matches.
Defensively, UT Martin (3-3) was led by Jamie Rys’ 25 digs, including 18 digs in the match against Gardner-Webb alone. Justine Walker guided the Skyhawks with 11 blocks today as UT Martin generated a defensive clinic today – swatting away 23 blocks in the opening match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The Skyhawks close out their participation in the Memphis Invitational tomorrow, as UT Martin takes on Memphis at 1 p.m.
SOUTH ALABAMA 3, TENNESSEE STATE 2; TENNESSEE STATE 3, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 0
MOBILE, Ala. - The Tigers took on the Jaguars of South Alabama and the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State in the Jaguar Invitational on Sept. 6. Falling to South Alabama in five sets (25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 14-25, 15-10) the Tigers are 2-3 going into the match agianst Mississippi Valley State. Winning 3-0 in the match agaisnt MVSU (25-18, 25-12, 25-14) Big Blue is now 3-3.
Tennessee State vs South Alabama
Khalia Jordan lead the Tigers in kills with ten, Aniya Williams followed closley behind with eight. Gina Rivera-Ortiz added 19 more digs to her career record, making it 624. Julia Pierson had the match high of three aces against South Alabama.
SET ONE
The Tigers fell behind on the board due to kills and an ace for the Jgauars. Kills for Aria Holmes and Jasmine Fuqua got the Tigers back into the set. With bad sets and errors on the Tigers, USA recorded a five-point lead. A kill from Julia Pierson brought the Tigers back into the game. Iva Durdanovic with a kill pulled South Alabama further up on the board, making it hard for the Tigers to catch up. Fighting hard, Kristian Marshall recorded a kill and USA received an attack error. With a ten-point lead, a bad set on Pierson gave USA set one, 14-25.
SET TWO
Khalia Jordan with her third kill of the match and two aces from Julia Pierson put TSU at a three-point lead. Two more kills from Kariely Santana-Delgado and Aria Holmes kept that three-point lead. A kill from USA's Meagan Jones and an attack error on Pierson brought it close but with her second kill of the game, Aniya Willams pulled the Tigers ahead. Kelley Hartman scored with her sixth kill of the match but Jordan kept the Tigers on top with two kills in a row. Kiara Hill's first kill of the match and an ace for Teuila Lolotai secured the lead for the Tigers. Aniya Williams with her third kill of the match wins the second set for TSU, 25-22.
SET THREE
Pierson and Jordan with kills put up a two-point lead for Big Blue. Three kills from the Jaguars made it difficult for the Tigers to get back into the set. Two kills from Hartman and the offense of South Alabama proved to be a huge challenge for the Tigers. Jordan tried to keep the Tigers in the set but more kills from the Jaguars offense put up a nine-point lead. A kill for Jones won set three for the Jaguars, 14-25.
SET FOUR
Kariely Santana-Delgado with her second kill of the match put the Tigers on the board first.
Williams with her fifth kill of the game and a block assist from Pierson and Kendall Bullock helped the Tigers gain a lead.Jordan with another kill kept the lead for the Tigers even with USA kills from Hannah Harris. Offenisely strong, Williams added another kill to her record. Holmes and Pierson block an attempt from South Alabama, not allowing the Jaguars to succeed in scoring. Teulia Lolotai with a kill made it match point and an attack error on Jones for USA won the set for TSU, 25-14
SET FIVE
Kills for Williams and Pierson gave the Tigers an advantage. But USA came back with kills fom Harris and Hartman, taking the lead. Notching another kill for Williams and Santana-Delgado, the Tigers climbed back into the set. Hartman was carrying the Jaguars offense with 14th kills this match. Jaguars took the match with a kill from Harris, her tenth of the match, 10-15.
Tennessee State vs. Mississippi Valley
Aria Holmes recorded six kills during this match, with Pierson and Williams right behind with five. Pierson and Rivera-Ortiz tied for nine digs each.
SET ONE
A quick volley of points tied the game at three, with a kill from Holmes and an ace from Jordan, the Tigers took the lead.Three attack errors and Sofia Garcia-Guerrios's first ace of the day gives the Tigers a huge lead. Eigth points later, Garcia-Guerrios was still behind the line when a kill from MVSU ended her run. Scoring her first kill of the day, Kendall Bullock kept the pressure on MVSU. Tyler Caliste with two kills brought MVSU back into the set. Kill for Holmes gaave the Tigers a five-point lead. A bad set on MVSU gave the first set to TSU, 25-18.
SET TWO
Tylia Dixon and Caliste racked up some points with kills for MVSU, only to recieve an error to tie the game. Errors on MVSU gave TSU a leg up and the lead. Pierson and Williams notched another kill for today. Kills for Holmes and Fuqua, with Pierson's second ace of the match put TSU at a ten-point lead. Attack error on Mississippi Valley State won the set for Big Blue, 25-12.
SET THREE
Two kills for Mississippi Valley State gave the Delta Devils an early lead.
Fuqua with her second kill of the match put the Tigers ahead on the board.
A good volley between the teams, tied them at five. But, a kill from Bullock and Fuqua pulled the Tigers ahead, challenging the Delta Devils defense. Santana-Delgado with a kill gave the Tigers a five-point lead. Big Blue found holes in the Delta Devils defense and used that to it's advantage. Jaziah Anderson tried to keep MVSU in the game with a kill but Fuqua won the set, 25-14, with her sixth kill of the day.
Tennessee State Tigers will host Evansville for Big Blue's High School night with a Meet and Greet after. Come out and support in Kean Hall at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10.
UNC ASHEVILLE 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
ASHEVILLE, N.C.– Abby Noll posted her third straight double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs, but the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team fell in straight sets to UNC Asheville on Friday night.
The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-17.
Sophomore Jovana Bulatovic posted seven kills and a match-high 19 digs and senior Katelyn Caserma-Kloeble went for seven kills, three solo blocks and four block assists.
Early on in set one, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after an EKU error. After an attack error by UNC Asheville made the score 10-6, the Bulldogs scored four of the next five points to make it 14-7. Down 20-14 in set one, Eastern scored three straight points after kills by Bulatovic, Noll and Caserma-Kloeble to cut into the Bulldog lead 20-17. Asheville ended the set after a kill by Julia Lovelady to win 25-20.
In set two, the two teams traded points at the beginning when Asheville took a 7-5 lead after an attack error by Eastern. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 15-10 lead after a Colonel error to get into the media timeout in set two. Eastern responded though, scoring seven straight points after an attack error by the Bulldogs to take an 18-16 lead. EKU took a 22-20 lead after back-to-back kills by Claire Hankinson, but Asheville scored the last five points of the set to win 25-22.
Eastern took a 3-1 lead early in set three, but UNC Asheville scored six of the next seven points to take a 7-3 lead and never looked back. Asheville won the final set 25-17.
Julie Borges and Molly Hackett paced the Bulldog offense with seven kills each. Kasey West posted a team-best 15 digs on the night.
Eastern returns to the court tomorrow for two matches. The Colonels take on Dartmouth College at 10:30 a.m. and North Carolina A&T at 4 p.m.