BOX SCORE (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Averaging a stunning 15.5 kills per set, Morehead State stifled Tennessee State behind 62 total kills. The Eagles (19-9, 10-5 OVC) bested the Tigers (8-18, 6-9 OVC), taking the match by scores of 25-14, 22-25, 25-13, and 25-23.
"I thought we had some good offensive performance, we had a lot of kills and I think that says a ton about the type of ball that Tennessee State plays," said head coach
Jaime Gordon. "We averaged over 15 kills per set and I felt that our defense was pretty strong with the exception of the second set, but overall a good match and hopefully some momentum that we can carry into tomorrow."
Sophomore outside hitter
Olivia Lohmeier led the way with 18 total kills, hitting .311 from the outside on 45 total attempts. Also in double-figures was redshirt senior middle blocker
Jessie Wachtman who added 14 kills. As a team, Morehead State finished the match with a .233 efficiency with six players posting percentages of .300 or better.
Attributing to the Eagles' offensive success was redshirt sophomore setter
Chandler Clark who dished out 48 total assists, averaging 12 per set. She also added seven kills and six digs on the match, herself hitting .429 committing just one error on 14 attempts. Her seven kills mark a career-high, surpassing the previous mark of five, which she had accomplished twice before.
"One of the parts that you don't necessarily pick up on, but
Chandler Clark was very effective in the early part of the game and that really opened up some things for Jessie [Watchman] on the slide and Olivia [Lohmeier] on the pin," added Gordon.
On the flip side, Morehead State held Tennessee State to just 38 kills on the night, permitting the Tigers to hit just .167. The Eagles recorded eight total blocks, headlined by five total—all assists—from Wachtman. Sophomore outside hitter
Lauren Rokey chipped in four total blocks, including a solo, while Clark added three additional blocks. Senior middle blocker
Maddie Fella and Lohmeier each recorded blocks as well.
An active block created a number of deflections that allowed the Eagle back line to scoop up 71 balls on the evening. A trio of freshman—libero
Allison Whitten and defensive specialists
Olivia Montelisciani and
Taylor Hodges—each recorded double-digit digs. Whitten captained the trio with 16 while Montelisciani and Hodges added 14 and 11, respectively.
Morehead State concludes the regular season tomorrow afternoon as they host Belmont for a 2 p.m. ET match. The match includes senior day festivities as the Eagles honor the contributions to the volleyball program for seniors, defensive specialist
Alyssa Cecil, middle blocker
Maddie Fella, right-side hitter
Jordan Jones, and middle blocker
Jessie Wachtman.
