Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Morehead State senior libero
Kristina Schoo became just the fifth player in Ohio Valley Conference volleyball history to surpass 2,000 career digs Friday night, but the Eagles could not finish off a rally after trailing 2-1 and fell 3-2 at Jacksonville State. MSU fell to 15-6 and 8-2 in the league, while the Gamecocks improved to 17-5 and an umblemished 10-0 in the OVC.
Schoo, who needed eight digs to reach the milestone, had 12 on the night and now has 2,004 for her career. She needs just 78 to tie the MSU career mark. The Eagles had 69 digs as a team, but JSU's back defense proved to be the difference as they came up with 93 scoops.
After winning set one 25-21, the Eagles fell behind 2-1 as JSU won the next two 25-20 and 25-19. The Eagles forced a fifth set by taking the fourth 25-20, but ultimately came up short, 15-10, in the deciding set.
In a battle of two different styles of defense, MSU once again was powerful at the net. The Eagles had 14.5 team blocks, including nine total from freshman
Annie Gruenschlaeger and five from junior
Holly Evans. However, JSU's Lauren Harkins had 30 digs and Alex Schulte had 20 as the Gamecocks' passing game outdig the Eagles. MSU hit .121 for the match and had nine service errors. On the other hand, the Gamecocks had difficulties serving as well with 11 miscues from behind the back line.
MSU redshirt sophomore
Emma Keough topped the Eagles' offense with 13 kill and only one error for a match best ..500 hitting percentage. Junior
Kaitlin Craven had 11 kills and 10 digs, and junior setter
Kirstie Brangers posted a double-double of 38 assists and a team high 19 digs. Sophomore Liz Schuler piled up a career high 16 digs.
JSU got a match-high 18 kills from Brittney Whitten and 16 each from Schulte and Caitlin Vorbeck. At the end of the night, JSU had 67 kills to the Eagles' 46.
The Eagles have little time to recover as they take on Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Cookeville, Tenn.
