OMAHA, Neb. – Advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship for the first time in program history, Morehead State volleyball put forth a valiant effort against No. 8 national seed Florida before succumbing in straight sets.
Despite some opening set jitters, the Eagles (17-2) settled in the second and third sets using several rallies across the two sets to force ties or Florida timeouts. Ultimately, the Gators (20-3) took the match behind set scores of 25-14, 25-19, and 25-19.
Leading Morehead State offensively, senior
Olivia Lohmeier hit another major milestone, becoming the ninth player in program history to surpass 1,500 kills after collecting a match-high 14 kills. At the conclusion of the season, she ranks ninth in career kills with 1,509 and currently sits on a 31-match double-digit kill streak—one match short of tying the longest such streak of her career.
Fellow outside hitters, sophomore
Abby Hulsman and senior
Lauren Rokey tallied four kills apiece while redshirt freshman middle blocker
McKenzee Wagener added three kills. Recording a kill each was sophomore setter
Bridget Bessler and junior middle blocker
Mia Swearingen to round out the box score.
Pacing the back row, redshirt junior
Taylor Hodges led Morehead State with 10 digs, the lone Eagle in double-figures in the category. Junior libero
Allison Whitten nearly joined Hodges with double-digit digs, scooping up nine balls with Bessler, Lohmeier, and junior defensive specialist
Olivia Montelisciani adding five digs apiece.
In addition to her five digs and one kill, Bessler also tallied a team-best 18 assists.
At the net, Morehead State tallied three total blocks, paced by Wagener who tallied two total blocks, including the match's lone solo block.
The Eagles also landed three service aces in the match, as sophomore defensive specialist
Andrea Grimes, Hodges, and Lohmeier each earned a winner.
With the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, the 2020-21 Eagles etched their names in the record book, earning the program's 12 Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season championship, the fifth OVC Tournament championship, third NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship appearance, and first NCAA Tournament victory.
