MOREHEAD, Ky. – A matchup between the two undefeated teams in the Ohio Valley Conference Sunday night to open a two-game set to decide the conference's regular-season champion played out as expected as the match came down to the final winner-take-all set.
After forcing the fifth and final set, Jacksonville State took the opening round of a two-round, prizefight, capturing Sunday's match behind scores of 20-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 15-8.
Defensively, Morehead State racked up 86 digs, tying a season-high as six players finished the match with double-figure digs. Sophomore setter
Bridget Bessler, redshirt junior defensive specialist
Taylor Hodges, and junior libero
Allison Whitten each led the Eagles with 14 digs each.
Junior defensive specialist
Olivia Montelisciani added 12 digs while sophomore defensive specialist
Andrea Grimes and senior outside hitter
Olivia Lohmeier chipped in 11 digs each as Grimes total marked a career-high.
For the first time since Sep. 19, 2019, versus Marshall, Morehead State finished with a pair of players tallying double-doubles as Bessler and Lohmeier each recorded double-doubles. Lohmeier's double-double marks her second-consecutive double-double as she tallied a season-high 25 kills to go along with her 11 digs. Bessler recorded her fourth double-double of the year behind a season-high 56 assists and her 14 digs.
Senior outside hitter
Lauren Rokey joined Lohmeier with a double-figure kill count, slamming home 16 kills on the evening. Nearing double-digits was redshirt freshman middle blocker
McKenzee Wagener who totaled a career-best nine kills in the match.
At the net, junior middle blocker
Mia Swearingen paced the Eagles with four total blocks as Morehead State totaled five team blocks in the match. Sophomore right-side hitter
Abby Hulsman chipped in two blocks while also tallying a career-high six digs.
Morehead State also landed five service aces in the match as Montelisciani and Whitten each landed two winners.
Morehead State and Jacksonville State conclude the regular season tomorrow afternoon at Johnson Arena with first serve set for 2 p.m. ET.
