Ohio Valley Conference

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Morehead State volleyball team opened the weekend with a three sets to one win over Western Illinois Friday in the Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Ind.

The final set scores were: (25-15), (17-25), (25-20), (25-19). The match did not count in the Ohio Valley Conference standings even though the Leathernecks are members alongside MSU. The Eagles do not play WIU during the conference season in 2025.

Morehead State (4-3) was led by the outside tandem of M.E. Hargan and Hollan Everett. Hargan led the way with a season-high tying 22 kills while hitting a sizzling .395. She also added 12 digs for her 23rd career double-double. Everett slammed 14 kills and hit .211.

Sydney Sennett notched her 12th career double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs.

The Eagles got out to hot start with a 6-0 run to begin the match highlighted by two aces from junior libero Courtney Fitzgerald. Hargan added another two aces as MSU held a 4-0 advantage from the service line. The Eagles out-hit the Leathernecks with a .229 efficiency to .091 for WIU.

It was Western Illinois (1-6) getting off to a fast start in the second set. The Leathernecks went on an early four-point run to take a 4-1 lead. WIU used two three-point runs to expand their lead to 13-5 and cruised to a 25-17 set win. The Leathernecks hit .321 in the frame, and out-blocked the Eagles 5-1 in the set.

The third set was closely contested. WIU went on a three-point run to go ahead 10-7 and took a 15-14 lead into the set break. The Eagles went on a 5-1 run to take a 19-16 lead and closed out the set 25-20. The Eagles attack hit .235 in the set and was led by Hargan's six kills.

The final set was again tight early. The teams then took turns making scoring runs. MSU used a four-point run to take a 12-7 lead. WIU answered with a three-point run of their own to cut the lead to two. The Eagles responded with another four-run, only to be answered by a WIU four-point run to make the score 16-14. The Leathernecks made another three-point run to cut the lead to 21-19 before Morehead State closed out the match with their third four-point run of the frame.

Western Illinois was led by Keyana Cruse with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Morehead State came away victorious in their second match of the day with a tightly-contested sweep over UAB Friday afternoon in Evansville in the Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Morehead State (5-3) was led by M.E. Hargan with 14 kills. Hargan also added four services aces, tying her career high. Amelia Nott tied her season high with 11 kills, adding four blocks. Hollan Everett added 11 kills and two total blocks.

The final set scores were (25-22), (29-27), (25-22).

The first set was marked by multiple runs by both teams. Morehead State (5-3) ran off a 10-point run to take a 10-1 lead in the opening set, highlighted by three service aces by junior Libero Courtney Fitzgerald. UAB responded with a six-point run to cut the lead to 10-7. UAB used another four-point run to get to within a point at 17-16. Morehead State used another four-point run to extend the lead to 22-17 and held off the Blazers 25-22.  

The second set was another back-and-forth affair. Morehead State began the second set with a four-point run. The Blazers fought back and used a three-point run to tie the set 10-10. After Morehead State built a lead to 18-14, UAB battled back to tie the set at 21-21. The Eagles fought off two set points and took the frame 29-27 finishing off the set with a three-point run.

Set three was got off to another wild start. UAB scored five of the first six points to go up early. MSU responded with a seven-point run to go ahead 9-6, the run highlighted by three service aces by Hargan. Another three-point run moved the Eagles ahead 12-7. A 7-2 Blazer run evened the score at 18-18. The Eagles responded with a three-point run to go ahead 22-19 and closed out the match with a kill by Bailey Brashear.

UAB (4-3) was led by Jorda Crook with 12 kills and eight digs. She added four blocks, including one block solo.

MOREHEAD STATE 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 1
EVANSVILLE 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Western Illinois volleyball team faced two tough opponents on Friday at the Meeks Family Fieldhouse, opening the day with a four-set loss to Morehead State before pushing host Evansville to five sets in the evening. The Leathernecks now hold a 1-7 record on the season. 

Western Illinois fell behind early but responded with a dominant second-set victory before ultimately dropping the match in four sets to Morehead State.

The Eagles controlled the opening frame, running on a 13-kill effort to take a 25-15 win. WIU fought back in the second, hitting .321 with 12 kills to even the match, 25-17. Elizabeth Ziegler powered the offense with nine kills on the day while Grace Kremer and Keyana Cruse provided a strong defensive front at the net, combining for eight blocks.

Morehead State pushed back in the third and fourth sets. Despite Hillary Estes' efficient outing of four kills on just seven swings (.571) and four service aces, the Leathernecks could not keep pace with the Eagles'  attack. Cruse tallied 11 kills and 11 digs for a solid two-way performance, while setter Madelyn Norton handed out 15 assists.

Western Illinois finished the match with 37 kills and 51 digs, but the Eagles' .241 hitting percentage proved the difference in a 3-1 setback.

Western Illinois fought to the very end, taking Evansville to a decisive fifth set before falling short.

The Leathernecks came out strong, edging the Purple Aces 27-25 in the opening set behind Keyana Cruse's offensive power. Cruse finished with a team-high 18 kills at an impressive .362 hitting clip, adding 16 digs for a double-double. Evansville answered with back-to-back set wins, limiting WIU to just 17 kills combined in sets two and three.

WIU extended the match by winning the fourth set, 25-19, with clutch swings from Cruse and Kennedy Adair, who contributed 10 kills and nine digs. The fifth set was a battle until Evansville pushed back, hitting .381 to close the match.

Defensively, libero Karlie Lane anchored the back row with 20 digs, while Kremer and Hillary Estes each provided a strong blocking presence, combining for 10 total blocks. The Leathernecks out-blocked Evansville 13-11, showing grit at the net throughout the match.

SIUE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 2
SIUE 3, AIR FORCE 2
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE volleyball hand Air Force their first loss in a five-set thriller at First Community Arena.
 
The Cougars took charge in sets one and two (25-19,25-23), but the Falcons rallied to even the match with wins in sets three and four (25-20,25-22). SIUE held firm in the decisive fifth, closing out the victory 15-12.
 
Earlier in the day, the cougars also battled to a five-set win over Austin Peay (25-12,20-25,15-25,25-18,15-11).
 
With the two victories SIUE improves to 4-4 in their season. Air Force falls to 7-1, while Austin Peay goes to 1-6 on the season.
 
Graduate student Kyndia Smith powered the Cougars against Air force with a career-high-tying 19 kills. Junior Vienna Elliott dominated at the net with seven blocks, while Sophie Robinson recorded her third double-double with 15 kills and 17 digs.
 
As a team, SIUE posted a season-high 16 blocks along with 59 kills, eight aces and 55 assists. Air force finished with 60 kills, nine aces, 10 blocks and 52 assists.
 
In the morning match, SIUE led the attach with 52 kills, and 11 aces compared to the Governors 46 kills, and eight aces.

LITTLE ROCK 3, NORTHWESTERN STATE 0
NORTH TEXAS 3, LITTLE ROCK 0
DENTON, Texas - Led by a career-high 11 kills from junior Sophia Garrido, the Little Rock Trojans posted a season-best .319 attack percentage and swept Northwestern State on Friday in the opening game of the UNT-UTA Invitational. Little Rock will also play in the final match of the day, a 7 pm contest against host North Texas, which will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
The Trojans (3-4) needed a late rally to take the opening set, but from there the final result was never in doubt as Little Rock won by scores of 26-24, 25-15, and 25-13. Northwestern State (1-8) dropped its eighth straight match. The win also halts a three-game slide for the Trojans.
 
In addition to Garrido's 11 kills, Bella Cherry also put down 11. Avery Fearnley and A'lanae Margaritha each added five kills, and Jaycee Kennedy and Grazia D'Amore had four apiece in a contest that lasted just 65 minutes. All six players hit at least .300 individually, with D'Amore (.500), Garrido (.476), and Fearnley (.400) leading the way.
 
Kaylee Smith led the Trojans with 15 assists. Dariana Valencia added 10 assists and seven digs. Andrea Roman had a team-high nine digs. Margaritha and Garrido each had four blocks. The Trojans also finished with four service aces, one each by Roman, Margaritha, Cherry, and Isabel Morales.

North Texas (5-2) defeated Little Rock (3-5) in straight sets, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17, on Friday night at the North Texas Volleyball Center, giving the Trojans a split during the first day of the UNT-UTA Invitational.
 
Kaylee Smith distributed 12 assists over three games for the Trojans. Isabel Morales led the defensive effort with nine digs. Dariana Valencia contributed seven assists and one service ace. Bella Cherry added five kills and three digs.
 
This was the second meeting between the two teams this season, with North Texas also taking a 3-1 win over the Trojans in the first game of the season during the Lion Invitational, hosted by East Texas A&M.
 
The Trojans will head to Arlington tomorrow for a 5 pm matchup with 7-0 UT Arlington. The Mavericks needed five sets to defeat Northwestern State earlier today, resulting in an hour-long delay of the Little Rock-North Texas match.

DUQUESNE 3, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, MIAMI (OHIO) 1
OXFORD, Ohio - University of Southern Indiana volleyball splits the double header in the first day of the Miami/Best Western Invitational, taking down the host Miami University in four sets.

Junior Ashby Willis and freshman Aysa Thomas both earned double-doubles in each game today. Thomas tallied 75 assists, and Willis 39 kills over the two games.

The Screaming Eagles came out strong against Duquesne, tying the score in the first set seven times. Junior Ashby Willis recorded nine kills in the first set, the most she's had in a single set this season. She led the court in kills and hitting percentage at .438, having just two errors.

The second set was neck and neck, with eight tie scores and four lead changes. The Screaming Eagles took the final lead in the last seven points to take the set. Senior Bianca Anderson hit four kills on four attempts, hitting 100 percent. Willis tallied five more kills, along with freshman Aysa Thomas sneaking in two kills to help her offense. The Eagles hit the best team percentage of the game for either side in this set at .424 percent.

The third set was a battle from start to end, with 19 tie scores and 12 lead changes. Anderson led the team with six kills, followed by junior Leah Coleman, who tallied four. Senior Keira Moore picked up six digs to lead the Eagle defense.

The Eagle defense fought hard in the final set, with three players having four digs, Willis, along with liberos Audrey Small and Keira Moore. Anderson and Thomas defended the net with two blocks each.
For the game, two Eagles finished with double-doubles. Willis tallied 19 kills and 10 digs, marking her second double-double of the season. In her first double-double of her career, Thomas recorded 28 assists and 12 digs.

The Screaming Eagles dominated the RedHawks in the first set, holding them to a -.024 hitting percentage. Three Eagles finished the set with four kills each, dished out by freshman setter Thomas who had 12 assists.

After a rocky start to the set, the Screaming Eagles fought back to take the second set. Fighting to take the lead back at 18-17, USI finished strong, going 7-3 for the rest of the set. Junior McKenzie Murphy added two more kills to the board, setting a new season-high at six kills. Willis put down six more kills to lead the court.

USI's defense was a challenge in the third set, out-digging and out-blocking the RedHawks. The Eagles put up five total team blocks, led by Murphy. Leading the back court was sophomore Kerigan Fehr, who picked up six digs in the third set, adding to her new career-high 15 digs for the night.

Willis led the Eagles at the net with eight kills, followed by Murphy and Anderson with three each. As a team, USI hit their best hitting percentage in the final set at .256, with just six errors. Thomas added 14 assists, her highest in a set.

For the game, Thomas and Willis both earned their second double-double of the day. Thomas set a new career high in assists with 47, connecting with three of her hitters on double-digit kills. She also tallied 10 digs. Willis tallied a career-high 20 kills and 15 digs.

The Screaming Eagles dominated at the service line, with seven aces, led by Anderson, who had a career-high of three.

The Eagles' defense was a momentum changer tonight. At the net, the team had 17 total blocks, led by Anderson with nine, followed by Murphy, who had eight, each earning career highs. Four Eagles picked up double-digit digs, led by libero Audrey Small who had a season-high 24 digs.

RADFORD 3, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Every time Tennessee Tech found a rhythm on Friday, Radford responded with a run, making the Golden Eagles fight for every point they got as the Highlanders took a 3-0 victory on the second day of the Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Holiday Inn of Cookeville. 

Throughout the match there were flashes for the Golden Eagles, but they couldn't catch fire as Radford (2-6) put together one of its best efforts of the season, hitting .444 for the contest and getting double-digit kills from Aubrey Hatch with 11 and 10 for Taryn Roberts. The Highlanders were also able to defend the net, collecting 16 assisted blocks – including five for Roberts. 

Jackeline Nerro had 16 assists to lead Radford, while Lea Gage collected 15. 

For the Golden Eagles, Bella Powell led the way with seven kills, Jordan Karlen had five with a few sneaky ones from the set, and Ava Schubert, Audrey Berkebile and Tuva Falk each collecting four. MK Roberts was strong on defense with a team-best 10 digs, while Powell had a solo block and an assist out of the Golden Eagles' pair of total blocks. 

Karlen led the match with 21 assists. 

Radford jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but the Golden Eagles climbed back within one at 10-9 with Tech forcing an attack error by Rylee Sloss. However, the Highlanders rode back out to a six-point advantage at 18-12. Three straight kills – two from Falk and one from Powell – cut it back within three at 18-15, but that was the closest Tech got back in the set as Radford continued to a 25-18 win in the frame. 

The second set saw six ties and four lead changes as the Golden Eagles battled, jumping out to a 7-2 run to open. Radford roared back with six straight points – two attack errors, two kills and two service aces – to take a 9-8 advantage and Tech tied the game on a Roberts attack error. 

Jordyn Milhouse tied the set once more at 14, but Gabriela Smolenska put Radford back on top at 15-14, leaving the Golden Eagles a step behind in the remainder of the set. Tech cut it back to two points at 22-20, but the Highlanders collected the last three points of the game to close out with a 25-20 win. 

The final set saw Radford storm out quickly, outscoring Tech 10-2 in the first 12 rallies. The early run was tough to overcome as the Highlanders led by as 13 en route to the 25-12 set final and the match sweep.

CHATTANOOGA 3, UT MARTIN 1
MEMPHIS - The Morehead State volleyball team opened the weekend with a three sets to one win over Western Illinois Friday in the Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Ind.

The final set scores were: (25-15), (17-25), (25-20), (25-19). The match did not count in the Ohio Valley Conference standings even though the Leathernecks are members alongside MSU. The Eagles do not play WIU during the conference season in 2025.

Morehead State (4-3) was led by the outside tandem of M.E. Hargan and Hollan Everett. Hargan led the way with a season-high tying 22 kills while hitting a sizzling .395. She also added 12 digs for her 23rd career double-double. Everett slammed 14 kills and hit .211.

Sydney Sennett notched her 12th career double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs.

The Eagles got out to hot start with a 6-0 run to begin the match highlighted by two aces from junior libero Courtney Fitzgerald. Hargan added another two aces as MSU held a 4-0 advantage from the service line. The Eagles out-hit the Leathernecks with a .229 efficiency to .091 for WIU.

It was Western Illinois (1-6) getting off to a fast start in the second set. The Leathernecks went on an early four-point run to take a 4-1 lead. WIU used two three-point runs to expand their lead to 13-5 and cruised to a 25-17 set win. The Leathernecks hit .321 in the frame, and out-blocked the Eagles 5-1 in the set.

The third set was closely contested. WIU went on a three-point run to go ahead 10-7 and took a 15-14 lead into the set break. The Eagles went on a 5-1 run to take a 19-16 lead and closed out the set 25-20. The Eagles attack hit .235 in the set and was led by Hargan's six kills.

The final set was again tight early. The teams then took turns making scoring runs. MSU used a four-point run to take a 12-7 lead. WIU answered with a three-point run of their own to cut the lead to two. The Eagles responded with another four-run, only to be answered by a WIU four-point run to make the score 16-14. The Leathernecks made another three-point run to cut the lead to 21-19 before Morehead State closed out the match with their third four-point run of the frame.

Western Illinois was led by Keyana Cruse with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Morehead State came away victorious in their second match of the day with a tightly-contested sweep over UAB Friday afternoon in Evansville in the Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Morehead State (5-3) was led by M.E. Hargan with 14 kills. Hargan also added four services aces, tying her career high. Amelia Nott tied her season high with 11 kills, adding four blocks. Hollan Everett added 11 kills and two total blocks.

The final set scores were (25-22), (29-27), (25-22).

The first set was marked by multiple runs by both teams. Morehead State (5-3) ran off a 10-point run to take a 10-1 lead in the opening set, highlighted by three service aces by junior Libero Courtney Fitzgerald. UAB responded with a six-point run to cut the lead to 10-7. UAB used another four-point run to get to within a point at 17-16. Morehead State used another four-point run to extend the lead to 22-17 and held off the Blazers 25-22.  

The second set was another back-and-forth affair. Morehead State began the second set with a four-point run. The Blazers fought back and used a three-point run to tie the set 10-10. After Morehead State built a lead to 18-14, UAB battled back to tie the set at 21-21. The Eagles fought off two set points and took the frame 29-27 finishing off the set with a three-point run.

Set three was got off to another wild start. UAB scored five of the first six points to go up early. MSU responded with a seven-point run to go ahead 9-6, the run highlighted by three service aces by Hargan. Another three-point run moved the Eagles ahead 12-7. A 7-2 Blazer run evened the score at 18-18. The Eagles responded with a three-point run to go ahead 22-19 and closed out the match with a kill by Bailey Brashear.

UAB (4-3) was led by Jorda Crook with 12 kills and eight digs. She added four blocks, including one block solo.

INDIANA STATE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Eastern Illinois Panthers suffer their first loss of the 2025 season. EIU began the regular season 5-0, including last weekend's sweep of the Saluki Bash. That invitational included Southern Illinois, Kansas City, and New Mexico. After suffering their Friday night loss, the Panthers will face Montana and Butler to round out their weekend. 

The Sycamore set the tone for the night, with Indiana State taking set one 25-18. Indiana State used a 9-0 scoring run early to open the night with an 11-3 lead and never looked back. Expanding the lead to 20-10; however, EIU would never back down, forcing a late Indiana State timeout with a 4-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to 18-24. Unfortunately, EIU could not complete the comeback and dropped set one. The Panthers would go on to take set two fueled by a better start to the set. A more back-and-forth set than the previous one, EIU would take control late with a 4-0 and 3-0 scoring run to close the second set. After tying up the match, the Sycamores would take command, winning a nail-biter 25-22, in which EIU led late 21-20 after a 4-0 scoring. After Indiana State called timeout, the Sycamores regrouped and outpaced the Panthers. Set four entailed a close start with both teams exploding with long scoring runs. Unfortunately, Indiana State would close out the match, winning 25-12. 

The Panthers were led by Catalina Rochaix, the match assist leader with 25 and a hitting percentage of .500. Ariadna Pereles led the match with 30 digs and Katie Kopshever contributed 12 total points.

WEBER STATE 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State (4-4) fell to Weber State (7-1) in straight sets on Friday night at Houck Field House, by final scores of 25-27, 19-25, and 24-26.

The Wildcats secured the set with a narrow 27-25 victory over Southeast Missouri State. Morgan Pratt contributed significantly for the Wildcats with multiple assists, including on key kills by Rose Moore and Kaylie Ray. Southeast Mo. St. rallied late to tie the set at 24-24 with a kill from Katherine St. John, but the Wildcats responded quickly to close the set. Ray led the Wildcats with crucial kills, including the final point to secure the set.

Southeast Mo. St. opened the set strong with a 3-0 lead, highlighted by a service ace from Ramiri Gardner. Kara Oxenknecht contributed three kills for Southeast Mo. St. in the set, maintaining offensive pressure. Southeast Mo. St. recorded a total of four service aces during the set, demonstrating effective serving. The Wildcats closed the set with a 6-0 run, including a service ace by Pratt, to secure the 25-19 set victory.

Southeast Missouri State maintained a strong effort with Reagan Nelson contributing six kills during the set. Ellie Burns provided key assists, setting up three successful kills for Southeast Missouri. The Wildcats' Pratt recorded multiple assists, facilitating a balanced attack with contributions from Ashley Gneiting and Rose Moore. The set remained competitive as Southeast Mo. St. closed a four-point gap to tie it at 24-24 before the Wildcats secured the final two points for the 26-24 win.