BOX SCORE
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Opening conference play on its home floor, Morehead State volleyball improved to 7-0 at Johnson Arena, defeating Belmont in four sets. The Eagles (10-3, 1-0 OVC) dropped the first set 20-25 to the Bruins (1-15, 0-1) before reeling off three straight set victories (25-21, 25-16, and 25-15) for the victory.
Morehead State put forth a balanced scoring attack Friday evening, recording 60 kills, seven total blocks, and six service aces. The Eagles also recorded 60 digs, limiting Belmont to a .127 hitting percentage in the match.
Three hitters recorded double-figure kill totals, combining for 43 of Morehead State's 60 kills. Junior
Lauren Rokey paced the Eagles with a match-high 18 kills while fellow junior outside hitter
Olivia Lohmeier added 13 terminations and sophomore middle blocker
Hannah Keating added 12 kills. Rounding out the box score was sophomore middle blocker
Mia Swearingen (seven), freshman setter
Bridget Bessler (five), and freshman outside hitter
Abby Hulsman (five).
Adding to her five kills, Bessler ran the offense, dishing out a match-best 49 assists, tallying 12.25 assists per set. Morehead State would add 10 additional assists, totaling 59 team assists on 60 total kills as the team hit .248 on the evening.
Defensively, Morehead State's back row featured a trio of players who dug up 10 or more balls apiece. Sophomore defensive specialist
Olivia Montelisciani paced the group with a match-high 16 digs while sophomore libero
Allison Whitten chipped in 13 and redshirt sophomore defensive specialist
Taylor Hodges added 11. Nearly reaching double-digit digs was redshirt senior
Danielle McCarson who totaled nine digs.
At the net, the Eagles tallied 14 block assists, totaling seven team blocks. Swearingen led the group with six total blocks while redshirt junior right-side hitter
Liz Allen added three. Bessler chipped in two blocks while Keating, Lohmeier, and Rokey each added one.
In service, Whitten landed three aces to pace Morehead State. Bessler collected two aces while Lohmeier and McCarson chipped in one apiece as the Eagles totaled six service aces in the match.
Morehead State continues their homestand Saturday as Tennessee State (8-6, 1-0) comes into Johnson Arena. Match time is set for 2 p.m. ET.
