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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- After a bit of a slow start, Laura McDermott and the rest of the Morehead State volleyball team really picked up the pace Friday night against Tennessee State at Wetherby Gym. McDermott pounded down a career high 16 kills and hit .600 and the Eagles shook off the rust to hand the visiting Tigers a 3-0 defeat (25-22, 25-14, 25-12).
MSU won its seventh straight match over TSU and picked up a win in the Ohio Valley Conference opener. The Eagles have now won 18 of the last 19 league matches dating back to last year. Overall, MSU moved above .500 too at 6-5. Tennessee State evened out at 4-4.
McDermott had 25 swings on the night from her middle position and connected on 16 spikes, helping setter Caitlin Clark finish with a match high 39 assists. The Eagles' defense also contributed to MSU's improvement over the final two sets. MSU out-dug TSU 52-39, including a match high 19 from junior libero Leslie Schellhaas and 10 via Lindsey Roth. Ellie Roberson also notched another double-digit kill effort with 10, and freshman Alex Fuelling hit .364 while smashing in six kills.
Shaquita Williams, the OVC's leading hitter, paced TSU with nine kills and a .304 attack efficiency. The Eagle defense limited the rest of the Tiger offensive unit to just 17 kills and a .058 hitting percentage.
The teams battled intensely in the first set as the Eagles saw the Tigers fight and claw for several points. TSU led early 10-6, but a 6-1 Eagle rally while Aryn Bohannon was on the serve gave MSU its first lead at 12-11. The teams continued to stay close until the Tigers edged ahead 22-20. But, McDermott landed two kills and assisted Clark on a key block as the Eagles rallied for the final five points.
Morehead State came out strong in the second set, finishing with a .250 hitting percentage off 13 kills. After trailing early, MSU fought back to take a 13-12 lead. But, then with Liz Schuler serving, the Eagles rattled off nine consecutive points to push their advantage to 22-13.
The third set belonged to MSU as well. The Eagles blasted 14 kills and made just two attack errors for a .500 efficiency.
MSU concluded the match with a .280 hitting performance and had four aces.
Morehead State will look to make it 2-0 to open the OVC schedule when it hosts Austin Peay on Saturday at 2 p.m.
