SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 3, Northwestern State 0 (31-29, 25-23, 25-15)
UT Martin 3, @Memphis 0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-14)
@SIUE 3, Western Illinois 0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-21)
Pittsburgh 3,
@Morehead State 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-16)
Houston 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-19)
@Alabama 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-23)
Evansville 3,
Murray State 0 (25-17, 33-31, 25-17)
@Auburn 3,
Belmont 0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-12)
@Southeast Missouri 3, Central Arkansas 0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-18)
Austin Peay 3, Ohio 2 (22-25, 20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-11)
PITTSBURGH 3, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State volleyball battled but could not overcome the strengths of No. 4 Pitt Saturday as the Eagles fell 3-0 to the Panthers in the finale of the Comfort Inn-Vitational at Johnson Arena.
MSU slipped to 4-7, while Pitt stayed perfect at 10-0.
Pitt managed to hit .354 and added eight blocks as they won by scores 25-17, 25-12, 25-16.
Freshman middle Irene Wogenstahl had a productive match for her squad, leading the Eagles with seven kills while hitting .385. She finished the three matches in the event with 26 kills and just five errors. Fellow middle McKenzee Wagener added six kills and hit .500 on 10 swings.
The Eagles also had a pair of double-digit dig totals in junior libero Allison Whitten (13) and junior Olivia Montelisciani (10).
Pitt spread out its offensive attack with 13 kills in the first set and 16 in the other two. Leketor Member-Meneh led the Panthers with 14 kills and just one error. The Panthers also saw only one lead change against them in the match.
Morehead State opens the 18-match Ohio Valley Conference slate next weekend with matches Friday and Saturday at Austin Peay.
UT MARTIN 3, MEMPHIS 0
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team fired on all cylinders for the second straight match this afternoon, sweeping the host Memphis Tigers on its own home court (26-24, 25-18, 25-14) to wrap up the Tiger Brawl.
At the conclusion of the tournament, a pair of Skyhawks earned a spot on the seven-member all-tournament team. Haeleigh Paulino (97 assists, 38 digs) and Olivia Saunders (24 kills, .275 hitting percentage and eight blocks) each came away with their first all-tournament accolades in a UT Martin uniform.
Addison Conley paced the Skyhawks with 11 kills on a .296 attack percentage today while Logan Wallick (.467 hitting percentage) and Francela Ulate (.429) both added eight kills apiece. Paulino registered a match-high 33 assists and tacked on seven digs, orchestrating an offensive attack that hit .279 (40 kills against only 11 errors) in 104 attempts.
On the defensive side, Kayla Carrell scooped up a team-best 11 digs with Baillie Kearns (nine) and Conley (nine) following closely behind. Saunders turned away a match-high four blocks at the net for UT Martin, who defeated Memphis for just the third time in school history but second time since 2018.
The first set included an astounding 20 tie scores and 11 lead changes. Conley put down four kills during the Skyhawks’ first seven points and added a fifth rally killer soon thereafter to help UT Martin claim a 12-11 advantage. After the Tigers went on a 6-2 run, the Skyhawks scored eight of the next 12 points to go back on top by a 22-21 margin. Momentum temporarily shifted back to Memphis’ side as UT Martin faced set point (24-23) before closing out the set with three consecutive points (Conley kill, Logan Wallick kill, block assist from Saunders and Addy Vaughn). Paulino handed out 15 assists in the opening set alone as Conley (six kills) was the primary benefactor of an offense that hit .385.
The Skyhawks trailed by four points midway through the second stanza but a 7-0 run turned the tide. Trailing by a 13-9 margin, UT Martin took advantage of four Tiger errors during the aforementioned 7-0 spurt, opening up a 16-13 lead in the process. Memphis closed the gap to 16-15 but that was as close as it would get the rest of the way as the Skyhawks pieced together an impressive 9-3 run to end the second set. Conley managed team-highs of four kills and four digs in the second set.
In the final stanza, UT Martin sided out at 78 percent (11-of-14), hitting a scorching .462 (13 kills, one error) in 26 swings. The Skyhawks turned a 6-4 deficit into a 13-8 lead courtesy of a 9-2 run which featured kills from four different UT Martin players (Conley, Saunders, Wallick, Zoe Merriweather). Merriweather recorded two more kills to give her three putaways in the span of five points. Ulate soon slammed down back-to-back kills and Wallick did the same to open up a double-digit lead (24-14). An ace from Kearns on the Skyhawks’ next serve put the finishing touches on the sweep.
UT Martin rounds out nonconference play this Tuesday, Sept. 21 against Middle Tennessee in a home match that was just added last week. First serve from Skyhawk Fieldhouse is set for 6 p.m.
SIUE 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - In the final non-conference match of the season, SIUE struck early and never looked back, securing the first straight-set sweep of the season in a 3-0 victory over in-state foe Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon (25-16, 25-12, 25-21).
The opening set saw the Cougars trade blows with the Leathernecks in the early moments, before some outstanding attacking efforts firmly put the Red & White in front. As a team, the Cougars registered 18 kills, hitting at a season-best .455 clip (18-3-33) and siding out an impressive 81% (13-16). The SIUE defense also forced the Leathernecks into a hitting percentage of .161. This would be WIU's best percentage of the match, as the Cougar defense continued to force errors in the second and third sets. The second set saw an even more dominant effort from the Cougars, never surrendering the lead at any point in the set. A number of lengthy scoring runs and a .357 hitting percentage (17-2-42) gave SIUE their largest set win of the season in a 25-12 decision. The third set was more tightly-contested, but the Cougar defense again led the way, holding WIU to a .026 clip (7-6-39) and a 40% sideout percentage en route to a 25-21 win.
Individually, the Cougars were led by Julia Treichel, who recorded a season-high 16 kills in the three-set affair. Treichel also added seven digs and a solo block to her impressive statline. Alyse Drifka also had a career performance against the Leathernecks, hitting at an outstanding .875 clip (7-0-8) and recording a match-best 35 assists. Drifka also finished with nine digs, just missing out on a double-double. Annie Ellis continued to show why she is one of the most feared blockers in the nation, registering two solo blocks and a block assist. Ellis also recorded six kills. Jenna Taphorn demonstrated her formidable skill on the outside, recording season highs in kills (8), points (9.0), digs (3), and total blocks (2). Sydney Hummert also narrowly missed out on a double-double, registering seven kills and nine digs.
The Cougars close out non-conference play with a 3-8 record, and will remain at home next weekend to open Ohio Valley Conference play with a two-match series against Tennessee Tech. First serve against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for Friday, September 24 at 6 p.m.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (9-3) secured the 2021 Redhawks Invitational Championship with a commanding 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-12, 25-18) of Central Arkansas (2-7) Saturday afternoon at Houck Field House.
SEMO stayed perfect at its second-straight home tournament to conclude its non-conference slate. The Redhawks registered their fourth 3-0 sweep of the season in the Redhawks Invitational finale Saturday.
Laney Malloy was named the 2021 Redhawks Invitational MVP while Colby Greene and Zoey Beasley joined her on the all-tournament team.
For Malloy, it was her eighth career all-tournament team and second MVP honor. Greene and Beasley were both selected to their first career all-tournament teams.
Malloy paced the Redhawks over the two-day tournament, finishing with 45 kills on a .441 hitting percentage to go-along with 20 digs and six service aces. She notched 11 kills on a .357 clip Saturday against UCA.
Greene added 10 kills versus Central Arkansas on a .450 rate while Beasley chipped in seven (.500 hitting percentage). The duo finished with 26 (.274) and 27 (.305) total kills, respectively, at the tournament.
Claire Ochs completed the Invitational with 112 assists and 16 digs as SEMO notched a .334 hitting percentage. Ochs dished out 30 assists in the final match with the Sugar Bears.
Tara Beilsmith accumulated 48 digs (4.80 digs/set) including 15 Saturday.
SEMO started Saturday's contest with UCA with a 6-0 advantage. Malloy had three-straight kills during the opening sequence.
A 7-1 run by the Redhawks extended the margin to 20-10. Ally Dion placed a pair of service aces to conclude the rally. Malloy had three of her five, first set kills during the run.
Greene finished the first frame with three kills as the Redhawks hit at a match-best pace of .394.
SEMO wrapped up the first set on four-straight points, 25-13. Ochs and Talia Gouard teamed up for a block assist before a service ace from Megan Harris.
In the second stanza, the Redhawks took a 10-6 edge after a Gouard service ace.
SEMO then doubled its advantage to 16-8 after a 6-0 run. Ochs tallied a pair of aces during the run.
Mackenzie Meehan and Greene combined for a block assist to widen the gap to 20-11. Meehan finished the match with two kills and three total blocks.
SEMO finalized the frame with a 5-0 rally, 25-12. Meehan added a kill and block assist with Beasley while Malloy tallied three aces including consecutive ones and the set-clinching one.
Malloy matched a career-best four aces Saturday.
In the third frame, SEMO went up 15-9 after kills from Ochs and Beasley. Greene then tallied a kill before a service ace from Kayla Closset pushed the margin to 19-14.
The Redhawks utilized a 5-0 run to bring on match point at 24-15. Malloy belted a kill before a service ace from Beilsmith. Greene and Caroline Draver both added rally stoppers before a solo block from Meehan in the rally.
Meehan then claimed the victory with a kill, 25-18.
SEMO hit over .300 for the third-straight match Saturday, finishing with .359 after going .307 in the match with Tulsa and .355 in the rivalry contest against Southern Illinois.
The Redhawks outscored UCA, 57-38. For the second-straight match, SEMO compiled 12 service aces, finishing the tournament with 30.
The Redhawks also out blocked the Sugar Bears, 7-3. Greene and Meehan each had three while Gouard and Elissa Moylan tallied two apiece.
With the win, the Redhawks finished non-conference play with a 9-3 mark.
SEMO next hits the road for its 2021 Ohio Valley Conference opening series at Tennessee State Sept. 24-25 in Nashville, Tennessee. Match times are set for 6 p.m., CT and 2 p.m. in the Friday, Saturday matchup in the Music City.
EVANSVILLE 3, MURRAY STATE 0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Murray State Volleyball team (6-4, 0-0 OVC) fell to Evansville (8-1, 0-0 MVC) in three sets in the championship of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational, 17-25, 31-33, 17-25.
Alexa Harris and Becca Fernandez were named to the all-tournament team.
An effective Aces serve caused problems for the Racers, forcing a season-high eight service aces against the Racers.
The Racers were led by Harris with 16 kills, a new season-high, on a .355 hitting percentage.
Brooke Lynn Watts followed closely behind with 15 kills.
2020 OVC Defensive Player of the Year, Fernandez produced 13 digs while Bailey DeMier had 32 assists, eight digs and four kills.
Murray State dropped the first and third sets 25-17 but fought back hard in the second set, fighting off six set points before falling 33-31 in the marathon set.
The Racers return home to Racer Arena for their home opener against Eastern Illinois on Friday, Sept. 24th at 6 p.m.
AUSTIN PEAY 3, OHIO 2
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Austin Peay State University's volleyball team picked up their first win of the WKU Volleyball Invitational in stunning comeback fashion with a five-set victory over Ohio (22-25, 20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-11).
The Governors dropped their first two sets against the Bobcats, but a comeback bid led by outside hitter Kaylah Jackson led the Govs to their first win of the tournament.
The Govs won their first set of the weekend in a commanding 25-14 fashion, led by a strong .481 attack percentage and four Tegan Seyring kills.
After evening the score with a 25-19 fourth set, the Govs finished the fifth on a 5-1 run to cap off the comeback victory.
With the nonconference season and a five-week road trip coming to a close, the Govs are set to host reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions Morehead State, Sept 24 and 25 at 6 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.
Austin Peay trailed Ohio 21-17 down the stretch in the first set, but a kill by junior Mikayla Powell followed by a pair of Bobcat attack errors cut the deficit to one and forced OU to call their second timeout. Out of the break, the Bobcats fended of the Govs' comeback bid with a 4-2 run, winning the set 25-22.
The Governors defense had no answer for the Bobcats in the third set, surrendering a .406 attack percentage and trailing by two sets.
With their backs against the wall and facing a potential third-straight sweep in the tournament, the Govs came to life on both ends of the court, firing at a .481 mark and taking their first set of the weekend 25-14.
The Govs carried momentum from their third-set victory into the fourth and did not allow the Bobcats to lead at any point, taking the set 25-19.
In the decisive set, sophomore outside hitter Kaylah Jackson paced the team with 5 kills as the Govs completed their comeback from down 0-2 to come away with their first win of the WKU Volleyball Invitational.
AUBURN 3, BELMONT 0
AUBURN, Ala. - Belmont University volleyball fell in straight sets to Auburn on Saturday at Auburn Arena to bring the Bruins' non-conference slate to a close.
The Tigers (8-1) swept 8-25, 12-25, and 12-25 to hand Belmont (2-8) their eighth straight loss.
Missy Sterkel and Laura Shoopman tied for the team-high with five kills each. Rachel McBride was the linchpin of Belmont's defense, making several highlight-reel digs to extend rallies and keep Belmont in the mix during the second and third sets. The sophomore libero finished with 15 digs in the match.
The afternoon got off to a rough start for the visiting Bruins, as Auburn rolled to a quick 25-8 win in the opening set. The 8 points were the fewest allowed by Auburn this season and the fewest put up by Belmont in a set this season. The Bruins committed eight attack errors and were never fully able to get comfortable against the high-flying Tiger offense.
However, Belmont used the fresh start afforded by the second set to string together some runs and challenge their SEC opponent. Belmont trailed just 7-8 at one point before Auburn started to pull away. The Tigers ended the set on a 17-5 run to clinch a 25-12 set win.
In the third and final set, Belmont got a service ace from Peyton Kelley and some precision kills from Sterkel and Taylor Floyd, but ultimately ended up on the wrong end of a 12-25 score.
On the day, the Bruins committed 28 attack errors and hit into ten Auburn blocks.
Mary Catherine Ball, who tallied a career-high four blocks against Florida A&M on Friday night, was named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Bruins will play their eighth game in 11 days when they return to the Curb Event Center in Nashville on Tuesday night for the conference opener against region rival Tennessee State.
HOUSTON 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0; ALABAMA 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - It was a pair of tough losses for the Tennessee Tech volleyball team Saturday, as the Golden Eagles (5-6) wrapped up their non-conference slate with a doubleheader of intense competition at the Bama Bash Invitational.
The purple and gold fell in the first match of the day to a remarkably talented Houston (10-2) squad, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-19). Tech then took on tournament host and winner Alabama (8-4), dropping a 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-23) tilt to the Crimson Tide.
In the day's opener, Tech fought back-and-forth with the Cougars in the first set, rallying late from a three-point deficit to tie things at 24-24. Houston held on, in the end, to take the early lead and used a late, 6-1 run in the second set to claim a 25-20 victory and 2-0 advantage. In the deciding game, the Cougars built a quick lead and never let go, taking the set 25-19 and the match 3-0.
Middle blocker Taylor Dorsey paced the purple and gold on offense in the first match of the day, totaling seven kills with a .286 attack percentage. The junior also registered three block assists. Fellow middle Skylar Boom was effective on both offense and defense as well, turning in six kills and five total blocks with a .267 hitting percentage.
Defensive specialist Emma Osterbur tallied team-highs of 14 digs and three service aces while libero McKenna Young contributed 13 digs. Setter Ashley Hand delivered 24 assists as well as six digs.
Alabama built early leads in the first two sets of Tech's evening tilt in Tuscaloosa, claiming the sets 25-13 and 25-16. The Golden Eagles made a run in the third, keeping pace early and eventually taking a 14-12 lead.
Six straight points by the Crimson Tide provided the home squad with an 18-14 advantage, but Tech scrapped back and took a 23-22 lead of its own late in the set. Alabama responded with three consecutive points, winning the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
Dorsey again led the Tech effort in the second match, posting a team-high eight kills with a .353 hitting percentage. She also produced a match-high four block assists.
Outside hitter Madolyn Isringhausen collected seven kills to add to the mix while Young led Golden Eagles with 10 digs. Hand added 22 more assists to her total while also totaling eight digs.
The Golden Eagles kick off Ohio Valley Conference play next weekend, heading to Edwardsville, Ill. for a pair of matches with SIUE. Tech squares off with the Cougars on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. CT and again on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2:00 p.m