HTML STATS | PDF STATSMOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State volleyball team registered a 25-21, 28-26, 16-25, 25-22 decision over Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State on Saturday evening at Wetherby Gym to send seniors Laura McDermott, Colbey Cameron and Alex Fitzmorris out with a victory.
"I'm so proud of our seniors," Head Coach Jaime Gordon said. "I'm glad Laura, Colbey and Alex get to finish with a win. This wasn't the season we scripted, having had so much success in the past, but no one ever quit and today we put together a complete match against a terrific opponent."
The Eagles wrap up their campaign 3-28 overall, 2-12 at home and 3-13 in league play. The Racers, who will host next week's OVC Tournament, slip to 23-5 overall, 9-3 on the road and finish 14-2 in conference action. Morehead State also improves to 44-25 all-time versus Murray State.
"We could have collapsed after losing the third set, but didn't," Gordon said. "You have to give a lot of credit to the young ladies in our program. The returning players really wanted this one for the seniors. We pulled together, made the necessary adjustments and finished on a positive note."
McDermott, a middle blocker from Westfield Center, Ohio, wraps up her career with 997 kills and 385 blocks. She smashed 17 winners and had just two errors in 36 total attempts for a .417 attack percentage in her 131st-and-final match at MSU. She also tied a career high with nine blocks.
Cameron, a setter from Prospect, Ky., closes out her career eighth in Morehead State history with 2,203 assists after piling up 35 in her final collegiate outing. She also tallied 750 digs in 114 matches.
Fitzmorris, a right-side hitter from Overland Park, Kan., finishes her two-year MSU stint with 523 kills and 141 blocks in 66 matches. She posted five winners and six rejections in her last collegiate tilt.
"Laura, Colbey and Alex have been model student-athletes for our program," Gordon said. "They are quality human beings who have done great things on and off the court. They have won OVC championships and played in NCAA Tournaments. They have made academics and community service priorities. We are very proud of them and can't thank them enough for what they've done. The bar is high for future classes. That's one of the things that make this a special program."
Morehead State recorded a 15.5 to 5.0 advantage in team blocks. The Eagles collected three solos and 25 block assists for their second-best total of the year. Junior middle blocker Hannah Sigala added 12 smackdowns for MSU, while freshman outside hitter Alli Evans came up with 15 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Scottie Ingram managed a team-best 15 kills for Murray State, while junior setter Sam Bedard handed out a match-best 43 assists and sophomore libero Ellie Lorenz notched a match-high 17 digs. The Racers collected a 55-42 upper hand in digs and had five aces.
"Thanks to all of our fans for sticking with this program throughout this season," Gordon added. "It was a trying year, but I'm confident we will return to the level our supporters are used to in the near future. We have a good group of players coming back, and we're excited about our recent signees."
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