BOX SCORE (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. – In a tight, deadlocked, back-and-forth match, Morehead State volleyball showed their true grit in a victory over UT Martin. The Eagles (15-5, 6-1 OVC) defeated the Skyhawks (8-12, 2-5 OVC) in four sets, each of which was played within four points at set's conclusion.
"Give UT Martin a ton of credit, they fought really hard," said head coach
Jaime Gordon. "They went after it all the way to the last point of each set. I think we were fortunate to have a couple of players step up and get into grooves at the right times."
Morehead State and UT Martin traded the first two sets as the Eagles took set one 25-21 before the Skyhawks captured the second 25-22. Across the pair of sets, Morehead State hit an uncharacteristic .146, recording 28 total kills, but committing 16 errors. UT Martin's block played a huge factor in the two sets as the Skyhawks registered seven of their 10 total blocks in the sets.
While the Eagles captured the final two sets of the match (both 25-22), the sets were a battle, featuring eight total ties—five of which occurred in the final set—and four lead changes, all in the final frame. Morehead State got into a groove offensively in the final two frames, recording a .270 hitting efficiency. The Eagles also limited their opponent in the final two sets, holding the Skyhawks to a .141 hitting percentage.
Offensively, sophomore outside hitter
Olivia Lohmeier led Morehead State with 18 kills, 10 of which were terminated in the final two sets. She also recorded a career-high 10 digs, notching her first double-double of the season. Senior right-side hitter
Jordan Jones added 14 winners while redshirt senior middle blocker
Jessie Wachtman also totaled double-digit kills with 11.
Lohmeier wasn't the only Eagle to record a double-double on Wednesday as redshirt sophomore setter
Chandler Clark registered her ninth double-double of the season. Clark dished out 44 assists in the match, leading the Eagles to a .210 hitting efficiency. Clark, like Lohmeier, dug up a career-high tying 16 balls to secure the double-double.
Three other players, in addition to Lohmeier and Clark, recorded double-digit digs, giving the Eagles five players total with 10 or more digs for the first time since November of 2017. Freshman libero
Allison Whitten tied with Clark for the team lead in the category with 16 digs while redshirt freshman defensive specialist
Taylor Hodges tied a career-high with 14 digs. Rounding out the group, freshman defensive specialist
Olivia Montelisciani recorded 13 digs. As a team, Morehead State dug up 84 balls in the back row, falling one dig shy of their season-high from their five-set match with Bradley.
On the other side of the net, UT Martin dug up 72 balls, led by their senior libero Brook Gyori who scooped up a career-best 34 digs. The Skyhawks also recorded 10 total blocks in the match, including a match-leading eight denials by senior outside hitter Megan Fair.
"The match was characterized by two teams, going toe-to-toe and battling one another," added Gordon. "I think the defenses on both sides did an outstanding job tonight."
Morehead State returns to the court Saturday, hosting OVC-foe Southeast Missouri. The Redhawks (12-7, 4-2 OVC) face Eastern Kentucky on Friday before heading to Wetherby Gym to face the Eagles. First serve is set for 2 p.m. ET.
