FRIDAY'S SCORES
Central Arkansas 3,
Little Rock 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-17)
Little Rock 3, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-12, 29-27)
East Tennessee State 3,
UT Martin 0 ( 25-19, 25-18, 25-13)
North Dakota State 3,
UT Martin 0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-21)
Rhode Island
3,
Southern Indiana 2 (25-14, 17-25, 25-16, 15-25, 15-11)
Idaho 3,
Morehead State 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-17)
Morehead State 3, Nicholls 0 ( 25-17, 25-19, 25-17)
Bellarmine 3,
Southeast Missouri 1 (15-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-15)
@Southern Illinois 3,
Southeast Missouri 1 (25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19)
Drake 3,
SIUE 0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-18)
SIUE 3, North Dakota 2 (24-26, 21-25, 25-18, 29-27, 25-12)
@Western Kentucky 3,
Tennessee Tech 1 (25-3, 22-25, 25-23, 25-11)
Indiana 3,
Tennessee Tech 0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-21)
@Toledo 3,
Eastern Illinois 0 ( 25-20, 25-13, 25-15)
@Tennessee State 3, Bethune-Cookman 0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-23)
UConn 3,
Lindenwood 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-14)
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3, LITTLE ROCK 0; LITTLE ROCK 3, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Little Rock's offense struggled to get going in an early match Friday morning at the Bluff City Showdown in Memphis as the Trojans dropped a straight-set decision to Central Arkansas at the Larry O. Finch Center.
As a team, Little Rock (2-8) hit -.049 and gave up nine service aces to the Sugar Bears (6-4). The top two leaders in kills for the Trojans, Daria Burrows and Makaila Harris, both committed just as many errors and finished the match hitting .000. Set scores were 25-16, 25-18 and 25-17.
Central Arkansas only hit .172 in the match and actually negated their nine service aces with nine service errors but the Sugar Bears, who hit .172 as a team, only had one player hit in negative numbers while the Trojans had four.
The injury-plagued Trojans, who only have 11 available players on the weekend, tallied seven total blocks in the match. Freshman Daedrianna Cail leading the way with five total blocks, one shy of matching her career high.
Harris and Livia Kimura, who led all players with 13 digs, each tallied an ace for Little Rock. Kimura's 13 digs were one more than UCA's Leigh Maher, a former Trojan and Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2020, who transferred to the school in Conway for a specific graduate degree program in speech pathology.
Lily Taylor led UCA in kills (7) and hitting percentage (.500).
EAST TENNESSEE STATE 3, UT MARTIN 0; NORTH DAKOTA STATE 3, UT MARTIN 0
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team took part in the Stacheville Challenge today, falling by 3-0 margins to ETSU (19-25, 18-25, 13-25) this morning before an afternoon setback to North Dakota State (19-25, 11-25, 21-25).
A total of 15 different Skyhawks saw playing time today as Kambree Lucas’ 14 kills (2.33 per set) led UT Martin offensively. Haeleigh Paulino led the Skyhawks in assists (22), digs (16) and service aces (three) while Mia Saenz and Angel Baylark each posted a team-best four blocks.
UT Martin wraps up nonconference play tomorrow when it takes on tournament host Austin Peay at 1:30 p.m.
ETSU
Paulino recorded her third double-double of the season (11 assists, 10 digs) but the Skyhawks could not find a rhythm in the day’s first match.
Lucas opened the match with three kills in UT Martin’s first five points but a 9-1 Buccaneer run resulted in a 15-7 deficit. The Skyhawk offense displayed their versatility as six different players (Logan Wallick, Karen Scanlon, Saenz, Lucas, Addy Vaughn, Baylark) teamed up for kills during an 11-6 surge, shaving their deficit to just three points at 21-18. However, ETSU recovered to score four of the final five points of the set to go ahead by a 1-0 margin. Lucas powered through for five kills on a .333 hitting percentage while Paulino had six digs in the opening stanza.
The UT Martin duo of Wallick and Paulino each delivered early kills in the second set before Scanlon and Baylark joined in for kills to keep the Skyhawks within striking distance at 11-8. The Buccaneers scored six of the next eight points but UT Martin responded with a 4-0 run which included rally killers from Lucas and Vaughn. Moments later, a block assist from Baylark and Wallick again kept the Skyhawks within three points (20-17) but ETSU reeled off five of the last six points in the set, claiming a 2-0 lead in the process. Dylan Mott (five) and Kayla Carrell (four) combined for nine of UT Martin’s 13 digs in the set.
The Skyhawks could not contain the Buccaneer offense in the third stanza as ETSU hit .517 with one error in the final set. Paulino started the third set with back-to-back service aces before Scanlon came through for two straight kills to knot the score at 5-all. The Buccaneers scored the next six points as part of a 13-2 run. UT Martin managed kills from five different players (Vaughn, Saenz, Audrey Haworth, Scanlon, Baylark) the rest of the way but it wasn’t enough to force a fourth set. Scanlon had three kills on a .400 hitting percentage in the final ser for the Skyhawks.
North Dakota State
Lucas narrowly missed out on her first career double-double – snagging team-highs of eight kills and nine digs – but the Bison turned out to be too much for UT Martin.
The Skyhawks hit .212 during the first set but could not overcome an early deficit. Following a Paulino service ace that started the match, North Dakota State scored five unanswered points and eventually took a 12-4 advantage despite a pair of kills from Vaughn. Lucas struck for a pair of kills before a Saenz service ace gave UT Martin a bit of momentum. The Skyhawks went on an 8-2 run late – highlighted by two kills apiece out of Baylark and Lucas – but the Bison took the first set. Lucas had four kills in the opening set while Baylark collected three kills in four swings.
UT Martin’s first two points of the second set came via Saenz kills before solo blocks from both Olivia O’Keefe and Baylark kept things tight early. The Skyhawks’ third solo block of the set – this time by Scanlon – trimmed UT Martin’s deficit to 8-7 but North Dakota State accounted for 17 of the final 21 points, including a crucial 7-0 run that essentially put the score out of reach for the Skyhawks, who hit -.067 (five kills against seven errors) during the set.
UT Martin showed some fight in the third set, which alone featured 14 tie scores and nine changes. Kills from four separate Skyhawks (O’Keefe, Lucas, Saenz and Haworth) plus a service ace from Saenz provided UT Martin with an early advantage. The Bison briefly took a lead but not before kills from Baylark and Haworth put the finishing touches on a 4-1 run and gave the Skyhawks a 17-15 edge. Unfortunately, North Dakota State ended the match on a 10-4 run, including the last three points after a Saenz kill made it a one-point match at 22-21. Lucas topped UT Martin in both kills (three) and digs (six) in the third stanza.
RHODE ISLAND 3, SOUTHERN INDIANA 2
DEKALB, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (0-10, 0-0 OVC) saw many opportunities but could not capitalize as the University of Rhode Island (4-7) defeated the Screaming Eagles, 3-2 (14-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-15, 11-15). USI battled back from a 2-1 deficit before the Rams took the final frame and sealed the Eagles' fate.
The opening frame ended with a 25-14 loss for USI. Rhode Island started the set with a 5-0 run before a Rams' service error and a kill by sophomore middle blocker Lauren O'Neill (Covington, Indiana) made it 6-2. Rhode Island would later go on another 5-0 surge that resulted in a 14-6 Rams lead as USI watched Rhode Island score 11 of the next 19 points to secure a one-set advantage. The Eagles ended the set with 11 kills and four errors while the Rams had 15 kills and just one error, leading to a .583 attacking percentage. Junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) led the team with three kills and three digs.
USI looked sharp in the second set, defeating Rhode Island, 25-17. Despite the Rams kicking off the frame with a 7-3 gap, the Eagles were able to go on an impressive 9-0 run to take their first lead of the match, 12-7. Leading the surge was sophomore outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) who tallied four kills while sophomore setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) recorded five assists, one kill, and a service ace. With a 23-17 lead, USI nabbed its first set win thanks to back-to-back kills from O'Neill.
The Rams, however, made up for their second set woes and kicked off the third frame with an 8-0 surge that ended in a 25-16 Rhode Island victory. A kill from Weber stopped the run but did not keep the Rams from extending their lead to 13-4. The Eagles were able to capture a 4-0 trip with the help of three attack errors from Rhode Island and a kill from sophomore outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) to cut the Rams' lead to 13-7. Rhode Island stormed back, scoring nine of the next 12 points to take a 22-10 advantage. USI returned the favor with a couple of kills from Weber and an ace from freshman setter Jordan Troutman (Henderson, Kentucky) to cut the deficit to 22-13. After the Eagles took advantage of three straight Rams' errors, Rhode Island sealed USI's fate with a kill to take a 2-1 set lead.
The Eagles came back and tied the match at two apiece after winning set four, 25-15. USI held a small lead at the beginning of the frame until a pair of 5-0 runs lifted the Eagles to an 18-12 lead then a 23-13 advantage. Anderson ended the set with a couple of kills to nab a fourth frame victory and send the match into a fifth set for the first time since August 26 versus Murray State. Bednar led USI in the set with five kills and an ace.
USI loses a heartbreaker in the final set, 15-11. The Eagles and Rams were tied at six apiece before Rhode Island went on a 5-0 trip, leading to an 11-6 Rams lead. A Sobieralski kill stopped the run before a kill from Weber and an ace by Troutman put the Eagles within three. USI could not stop Rhode Island from nabbing three more points to win its fourth match of the season. The Eagles were even with seven kills and seven attacking errors that proved to be costly.
Three Eagles tallied double-digit kills while three nabbed double-digit digs. Weber led the group with a match-high 15 kills while Anderson struck down 13 and Bednar tallied 11. Freshman libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) recorded a team-high 25 digs with Anderson securing 12 digs and Sobieralski capturing 11. O'Neill and Bednar each received five blocks while Sobieralski had a team-high 36 assists. Seven Eagles recorded aces in the match, which marks the most this season. Anderson was the lone Eagles to capture a double-double and is now just three kills shy of reaching the 1,000-kills plateau.
As a team, USI had 54 kills, a season-high 53 assists, and a season-high 12 service aces along with 66 digs and eight blocks (one solo and 14 assists). The Eagles' offense finished with a .194 hitting percentage that included the 24 attacking errors off 155 total attacks. Rhode Island finished the contest with 60 kills, 56 assists, and six aces along with 70 digs and nine blocks (one solo and 16 assists).
The Eagles finish the NIU Tri-Match with a battle against Northern Illinois University tomorrow at 11 a.m. This will be the final non-conference match for USI in 2022.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 3, TENNESSEE TECH 1; INDIANA 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Recap coming soon.
DRAKE 3, SIUE 0; SIUE 3, NORTH DAKOTA 2
GREEN BAY, Wis. - SIUE volleyball was back in action on Friday as the Cougars fell to Drake in three sets before taking victory over North Dakota in a five-set comeback.
Following the split, SIUE volleyball moves to 5-5 on its 2022 campaign.
Match 1: SIUE 0, DRAKE 3
In the first set, the Bulldogs jumped to an early 10-5 lead over the Cougars, but SIUE responded on two kills from Sydney Hummert to cut the deficit to three points. Drake followed with a 9-2 run to take a 10-point lead. The Bulldogs would win the opening set 25-12, taking advantage of the Cougars' 10 attack errors and -.214 hitting percentage.
Trailing one set to Drake, SIUE found itself in another hole early behind 17-6. The Cougars would answer the deficit with a 9-1 run to put the match within three points at 18-15. The two would trade points back and forth until the Cougars put the set within one at 24-23, but Drake prevailed to take the set, 25-23.
Trailing 10-5 in the third set, SIUE fought back to tie the set at 16 apiece. However, the Bulldogs pulled away with a 9-2 run to end the set and take victory over the Cougars.
Sydney Hummert finished the match with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs. Ainsley Ranstead picked up seven kills and recorded the Cougars' lone ace in the match, while Caroline Waite dished out 18 assists. Priscilla Jones, Jessica Vineyard and Jenna Taphorn each recorded two kills each in the loss.
Match 2: SIUE 3, North Dakota 2
SIUE found itself down two sets to none (24-26, 21-25) against North Dakota heading into the third set. Trailing 6-4, SIUE used a 3-0 run to take the lead over the Fighting Hawks. The Cougars and North Dakota traded points until the set was tied at 16, until SIUE used a 5-0 run to take a 21-16 advantage. The Cougars would hold the lead to take the set, 25-18.
SIUE kept their foot on the gas in the fourth, taking an early 5-0 advantage with the help of two kills from Ainsley Ranstead. With the Cougars up 9-7, SIUE extended their lead with a 6-0 run. The Fighting Hawks responded with a 11-4 run of their own to take a 20-19 advantage, but SIUE regrouped to tie the set at 21 following a kill by Priscilla Jones. The two dealt points back and forth to tie the set at 25, but SIUE fought hard to take the fourth frame, 29-27.
Down 4-3 in the final set, the Cougars used a 10-2 run to regain a 13-6 lead over North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks began to make a comeback, but SIUE closed out the set 15-12 to take victory in the match.
Sydney Hummert finished the match with a season-high 18 kills on 37 attacks with five errors, good for a .351 clip. Savannah Christian also tallied eight kills on 17 attacks with one error for a team-leading .412 hitting percentage. Ainsley Ranstead led the Cougars with a season-high four blocks and three service aces, while Caroline Waite dealt 30 assists. On defense, Nicole Kijowski led SIUE with 13 digs.
SIUE will close out the Green Bay Invitational and its nonconference schedule against host Green Bay at 1:00 p.m.
TOLEDO 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
TOLEDO, Ohio - Eastern Illinois (5-7, 0-0 OVC) volleyball drops their opening round matchup at the Toledo Challenge to host team Toledo (6-4, 0-0 MAC) by a score of 3-0 on Friday evening. Panthers were held to a .010 hitting percentage in the match with 21 kills. The set scores were: 20-25, 13-25, 15-25.
Christina Martinez Mundo was able to manage a five dig per set average with 15 digs on the match helping the EIU defense. Mundo led the way in the digs category for the Panthers while also recording a season high three service aces.
Tori Mohesky was active at the net hitting seven kills against the Rockets. She led the Panthers with a hitting percentage of .143 with a minimum of 10 attacks. Kaitlyn Flynn was second on the team with four kills while Anna Moster recorded her first two kills of the season going two for two on attacks.
Sylvia Hazs and Summerlyn Smith share the title of team leader at the setter position with seven assists each. EIU was held to just 17 assists on 21 kills. The Toledo offense was able to collect 39 kills against the Panthers while hitting for a .275 percentage in three sets.
EIU was limited on offense tonight with 20 attack errors while Toledo just hit 11. Toledo also was potent on defense being able to collect four block solos and eight block assists. EIU was held to just one block all match from Kate Dean.
Toledo was led by Olivia Vance with seven kills and Sinalauli'i Uluave and Rhyenne Filisi who both collected six apiece. Payton Morman also had a match high 28 assists for the Rockets while Ryann Jaqua posted 17 digs to lead all players. Toledo moves to 6-4 with the win over the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at noon to play Duquesne from Pittsbugh, Pa. Livestats will be provided along with livestreaming on ESPN3.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Recap coming soon.
IDAHO 3, MOREHEAD STATE 0; MOREHEAD STATE 3, NICHOLLS 0
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Morehead State volleyball team fell to the Idaho Vandals 3-0 (22-25, 17-25, 17-25) Friday at UniWyo Sports Complex.
The non-conference loss moved Morehead State to 3-7 on the season.
M.E. Hargan had a team-high nine kills for Morehead State. She also hit .316. Morehead State got a team-high seven digs from Bridget Bessler. Morehead State attackers were helped by a team-high 26 assists from Bessler. Idaho registered 13 team blocks, limiting the Eagles to only .065 hitting on the day.
SET 1 | The Eagles fell in a back-and-forth first set, losing 25-22 in a game that featured two lead changes and was tied 11 times. Neither team led by more than four points in the set.
SET 2 | Morehead State then dropped set two 25-17 to fall behind in the match two sets to none. The Eagles fell behind on the first point and never took the lead before dropping the set.
SET 3 | Morehead State was not able to win set three and was swept by Idaho. The Eagles fell in a tough set 25-17. Morehead State trailed by as many as eight points as Idaho grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14 in a set that was tied up six times before the Vandals took over in the second half of the stanza.
The Morehead State volleyball team needed just three sets (25-17, 25-19, 25-17) to defeat the Nicholls Colonels Friday at UniWyo Sports Complex.
The out-of-conference win concluded the UniWyo Invite and improved Morehead State's overall record to 4-7 on the season. It also halted a 12-set losing skid since last weekend.
Morehead State never trailed on the way to winning the second set 25-19. Morehead State never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-17. Irene Wogenstahl did not make a single attack error and smacked down nine kills (.562 attack percentage) while also getting three blocks. Maycie Welborn tied for the team-high nine kills. Morehead State got a match-high 16 digs from Peighton Isley. Morehead State attackers were helped by a match-high 31 assists from Bridget Bessler. The Eagles landed 13 kills and made just three errors in both sets one and three.
SET 1 | The Eagles took set one 25-17 thanks to a strong performance on the attacking end. Morehead State registered a .323 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set victory. The Eagles ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza.
SET 2 | Morehead State continued to roll after a set-one win by securing a 25-19 victory in set two. The Eagles scored first and never trailed in the set to earn the victory. Morehead State opened up as much as an eight point lead at 18-10 before closing out the set, collecting 15 kills in the process.
SET 3 | Morehead State then capped the three-set sweep with a victory in set number three. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to secure a 25-17 victory. Morehead State opened up as much as an 11-point lead at 16-5 before finishing off the set. Morehead State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Nicholls attacks in the stanza.
MSU opens up OVC action on Friday and Saturday against new member Lindenwood at home.
UCONN 3, LINDENWOOD 0
STORRS, Conn. - Recap coming soon.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Recap coming soon.