MOREHEAD, Ky. – Competing for a share of an Ohio Valley Conference title and the right to host the Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Championship, Morehead State volleyball came out Monday brooms in tow and earned both an OVC co-Championship and the conference's No. 1 overall seed.
The Eagles took that match from Jacksonville State in straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-23, and 25-21 to become the first team all season to defeat the Gamecocks. The Eagles also became the only team this season to force Jacksonville State to play from behind in consecutive matches while also being the first team to put the Gamecocks behind by two sets.
Morehead State stymied Jacksonville State's attack in the match, holding the Gamecocks to a .134 team hitting efficiency—Jacksonville State's lowest efficiency of the season. The Eagles also became the first team to hold the Gamecocks under .300 in both matches of a regular-season series.
Junior middle blocker
Mia Swearingen led the Eagles' block, turning away a season-high-tying six attempts, leading Morehead State to 10 total blocks. The match marked Swearingen's third with six total blocks while marking the fifth such match for an Eagle this season.
Overall, six Eagles recorded a block on the afternoon with redshirt freshman middle blocker
McKenzee Wagener and senior outside hitter
Lauren Rokey adding four and three total blocks, respectively.
Behind the block, Morehead State's backline tallied 57 digs in the match led by junior libero
Allison Whitten who scooped a game-high 18 balls. She was joined in double-figures by sophomore setter
Bridget Bessler who added 11 digs with defensive specialists, redshirt junior
Taylor Hodges and junior
Olivia Montelisciani adding eight digs each.
Adding 41 assists, Bessler tallied her second-consecutive double-double and her fifth of the season. She orchestrated Morehead State's attack to the tune of .221 team hitting efficiency leading Swearingen and Wagener to a combined .457 hitting percentage as Wagener's .615 (9-1-13) efficiency marked a career-high (min. 10 attempts).
Senior outside hitter
Olivia Lohmeier paced Morehead State with a match-best 15 kills with Swearingen chipping in a season-high-tying 10 terminations with the pair the lone players to reach double-figure kill totals in the match. Rokey and Wagener each added nine kills apiece for the Eagles.
In service, Morehead State landed three winners with Bessler, Hodges, and sophomore defensive specialist
Andrea Grimes each tallying an ace.
Morehead State now turns its attention to the OVC Volleyball Championship, serving as the tournament's host and No. 1 overall seed. The Championship begins Thursday with the Eagles' opponent to be determined this evening.
