UCA BOX SCORE | TEXAS TECH BOX SCORE
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Morehead State volleyball finished up the Texas Tech Invitational Saturday by sweeping defending Southland Conference champion Central Arkansas (27-25, 25-17, 25-22) before falling in a four-set battle to the host Red Raiders, 3-1 (22-25, 17-25, 25-22, 30-32).
The Eagles head home from the four-match event with a 3-4 overall record.
In the victory over UCA, redshirt sophomore Aryn Bohannon topped MSU's attack with 13 kills off a season high 34 attempts. The Eagles didn't hit particularly efficient (.131), but MSU's defense outdug the Sugar Bears 50-47 and forced UCA into hitting just .038 for the match. The Eagles also took advantage of 11 UCA service mistakes.
Sophomore Leslie Schellhaas and senior Liz Schuler had 13 and 10 digs, respectively, and redshirt senior Emma Keough moved a few steps closer to the MSU career block assist record with three in the match.
The Eagles found themselves trailing 17-13 in the first set, but, fueled by a pair of kills from Bohannon, the Eagles went on an 8-3 run to take a 21-20 lead. MSU moved ahead 24-21 but could not seal the set before UCA tied it at 24. Two kills by redshirt freshman Laura McDermott and one from junior Ellie Roberson finished off a three-point swing for MSU and a 27-25 win.
MSU led 13-10 in the second set, and a quick 5-2 flurry helped MSU pull away for the 25-17 win. After committing 10 attack errors in the first set, the Eagles had 10 kills and just four errors in the second.
In the final frame, MSU raced out to a 10-4 lead and eventually found itself in good shape at 19-12. But, UCA rallied to make it interesting. The Sugar Bears came all the way back to trail just 22-21, but kills from Keough and McDermott, and a bad set by UCA's setter, led to the 25-22 Eagle win.
Against Texas Tech, MSU won nearly every stats category, including kills (57-56), aces (5-4) and digs (86-80), but it was the Red Raider net defense that hindered the Eagles' offensive chances. TTU notched 17.5 team blocks, including eight block assists by two players, as it limited MSU to a .126 attack total.
Roberson led the team with 15 kills and also added four blocks, while Keough had 13 kills and hit a season high .550. Bohannon notched 11 kills and 17 digs. McDermott had a career high six blocks. On the back row, Schellhaas dug up a season best 27 attempts, while Schuler had 16 ups and Caitlin Clark completed a double-double with 10 digs and 44 assists.
Amanda Dowdy's 14 kills and 23 digs led the Red Raiders, who hit just .205 themselves.
After falling behind 2-0, the Eagles persevered in the third set. On the verge of being swept and trailing 23-22, Roberson smashed two kills and assisted on a key block with McDermott to take the match to a fourth set. The Eagles again fought to the end before falling 32-30. MSU saw Texas Tech with a match point opportunity at 24-22, but Keough's kill and another duo block from Roberson and McDermott sent the set to extra points.
The Eagles had two chances to win the set, leading by one, but a pair of service errors doomed those hopes. Breeann David smacked a pair of kills down for the final two points.
Morehead State returns home next weekend to host the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational at Wetherby Gym.
