Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State fought off a determined Tennessee Tech comeback effort and claimed a 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23) Thursday night in their Ohio Valley Conference series opener in Johnson Arena.
Morehead State (12-5, 6-0 OVC) was led by senior
M.E. Hargan with 11 kills and a career-high eight blocks. She notched four block solos, which was also a career high. Junior
Hollan Everett added 10 kills for the Eagles.
Tennessee Tech (7-12, 4-3 OVC) was led by Alayna Pierce and Bella Powell with 11 kills apiece.
Morehead State used a four-point run to take an early 4-1 lead in the first set. A pair of three-point runs closed out the set as the Eagles slugged a .429 attack percentage to overcome Tech.
The Eagles began the second set with a hot attack as well but cooled off to hit .250 in the frame but held Tennessee Tech to a .000 hitting percentage. The Eagles recorded four blocks in the frame, led by Hargan's two block solos.
Tech got an early 3-point run to grab an early 3-1 in the third set. They added a four-point run to go ahead 10-6. Morehead State later responded with a four-point run to take a 14-13 lead. The second set featured 11 ties and five lead changes, the last when Tech, down 19-20, ran off six straight points to win the frame and force a fourth stanza.
The Golden Eagles again used an early run to grab the early 4-1 lead in the fourth set and led deep into the set. Morehead State, down 12-16, outscored Tech 5-1 for the first tie of the set since 1-1. The Eagles then got a four-point run, highlighted by two straight points with blocks by Hargan and
Bailey Brashear, to take a 22-19. Tech rallied to tie the score at 23-23, before MSU closed the set out with their fourth block of the set, this one by Hargan and
Amelia Nott.
Morehead State and Tennessee Tech will close out the series Friday at Johnson Arena. First serve is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
NOTABLE
- Morehead State was stout at the net, posting 11 blocks to nine for TTU. The Eagles' five block solos was a season high.
- TTU edged Morehead State 56-54 in digs. MSU libero Courtney Fitzgerald and TTU setter Jordan Karlen led with 16 apiece. Karlen had 34 assists for a double-double. MSU setter Sydney Sennett finished with 27 assists and added 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and the 17th of her career.
- TTU held a 7-5 edge in service aces. Tech's Bella Powell led with three. Tech committed 12 service errors; MSU tallied 15 miscues from the service line.
