Eagles Sweep SIUE- Earn Series Sweep

Morehead, Ky.-- Morehead State got the 10^th sweep of its Ohio Valley Conference schedule as they put away Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (25-17, 25-16, 29-27) Friday night on senior night in Johnson Arena.

Morehead State (19-6, 13-1 OVC) used a balanced attack led by Morehead native Bailey Brashear, who set a career high with 11 kills, hitting .474. Seniors M.E. Hargan and Sarah Heath added nine kills apiece. Amelia Nott and Hollan Everett added eight terminations apiece.

SIUE (12-15, 7-9 OVC) was led by Sophie Robinson with 15 kills. She added 10 digs for a double-double. Freshman Kennedy Pike added nine kills for the Cougars.

Morehead State took an early lead in the opening set, but SIUE used a five-point run to go up 8-6. The Eagles tied the set up at 10-10 after a three-point run. MSU ran off five straight to gain separation at 19-14. Another 5-0 run got the Eagles to set point. Brashear ended it with her seventh kill of the set.

The second set began closely contested. SIUE ran off four-straight to even the score at 8-8. Then, similar to the opening frame, the Eagles used runs to gain separation. A pair of 3-0 run edged MSU ahead 15-11. Later a four-point charge put the Eagles on top 22-14. Everett led the MSU attack with four kills; M.E. Hargan smacked two service aces in the frame.

The game closed with a wild third set that featured 20 tie scores and eight lead changes. Both teams went on multiple runs, with neither able to extend a lead longer than two points. SIUE held off two Eagle match points and had two set points of their own. The Eagles clinched the match with a 3-0, capped by Hargan's ninth ace of the season.

Morehead State returns to the road next week when they travel to Charleston, Illinois, to face off against second-place Eastern Illinois Thursday and Friday.

NOTABLE

• Blocks were even 6-6. Nott led Morehead State with three block assists. SIUE'S Grace Nichols finished with match honors with four total blocks, including one block solo.
• Digs were tied at 61-61. MSU's Courtney Fitzgerald finished with a match-high 20 gets, her third 20+ dig performance of the season.
• Morehead State assisted on all but two of their kills. Sydney Sennett posted 38 assists, her 19^th match with 30+ helpers and the eighth outing in a row.