HTML STATS | PDF STATS
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior right side hitter Ellie Roberson clobbered 19 kills, including 12 in the third set, as the Morehead State volleyball team wrapped up an unbeaten Ohio Valley Conference schedule at 16-0 with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-19) sweep at Austin Peay Saturday.
Roberson committed only four mistakes en route to a team-best .417 attack efficiency to help the Eagles extend the nation's longest winning streak to 22 matches. Freshman outside hitter Courtney Smith chipped in with eight kills and a .318 hitting percentage. MSU concludes the regular season 24-6 overall and has now won 24 consecutive league road matches.
The 2012 Eagles became only the eighth team in OVC history to finish the conference season with an unblemished record.
The Eagles opened the match by hitting .400 in the first set as Smith hammered a trio of kills and helped MSU cruise on a 10-4 run to begin the action. The Eagles finished with 13 kills and just one error in the opening frame.
MSU cooled off a bit in the second, managing 12 winners, but hitting just .102 with seven attack miscues. Roberson took control in the third, however, slamming down a dozen of the Eagles' 17 kills. MSU hit .417 in the deciding set.
The Eagles totaled eight blocks, including four from senior middle Annie Gruenschlaeger and three via sophomore middle Laura McDermott. Junior defensive specialist Lindsey Roth landed three of MSU's six aces, and senior setter Caitlin Clark handed out 32 assists. Austin Peay won the dig battle, 54-49, but junior libero Leslie Schellhaas scooped a team-high 15 attempts.
Austin Peay's Nikki Doyle turned in a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Lauren Henderson hit a match-best .611 with 12 kills, and Liz Landon came up with a match-high 17 digs.
MSU finished with a .278 hitting total.
The Eagles will now focus on the OVC Tournament, which begins Thursday in Morehead. Top-seeded MSU will play first at 7 p.m. ET Thursday against the eighth seed. The bracket will be announced Saturday evening.
