Louisville, Ky. -- The Morehead State volleyball team opened their 2025 campaign with a sweep over St. John's in the opener of the Cardinal Classic at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena in Louisville Saturday.
MSU (1-0) used an efficient attack and a stout net presence to turn back St. John's (0-1) 25-21, 25-19, 25-23. MSU was a force at the net, tallying 15 blocks to just three for the Red Storm.
Hollan Everett and
Amelia Nott led the way with six blocks apiece. Everett added 14 kills on 32 swings for a .344 percentage
M.E. Hargan led the Eagle attack with 16 kills on 35 swings for a .400 attack percentage. She added a team-high 13 digs for her first double-double of the year.
After taking the first two sets, Morehead State got on top quickly in the third set with
Sarah Heath getting a kill and a block solo to put the Eagles up 2-0. MSU used a six-point run to get ahead 10-4. St. John's battled back with a 9-1 run to go ahead 13-11. The two squads traded blows with the Eagles getting the clincher on senior
Sarah Heath's eighth kill of the afternoon.
The Eagles got off to a good start. Led by
M.E. Hargan's eight opening-set kills and
Hollan Everett with five, the Eagles won the first set over the Red Storm 25-21. MSU hit for a .405 attack percentage in the opening frame and tallied six blocks to two for St. John's
MSU kept up the momentum in the second set. Hargan drew first blood with her ninth kill of the match and the Eagles never trailed in the frame. Freshman
Kennedy Tinch sealed the set with her second service ace of the match to give the Eagles a 25-19 set win. The Eagles slugged a .345 attack percentage in the set to -.061 for St. John's. The Eagles were again stout at the net; they turned away six blocks to two for SJU in the frame.
Morehead State returns to action in the Cardinal Classic Saturday. They will face off with Auburn at noon. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
NOTABLE
- M.E. Hargan became the 22nd member of the MSU 100-kill club with her fifth kill of the match to put the Eagles up 15-12 in the first set.
- Morehead State was efficient in the attack; going 45 for 114 for a .333 attack percentage. St. John's went 26 of 111 for a .045 hitting percentage. Â
- The Eagles were solid up front; MSU tallied 15 blocks to three for St. John's. Hollan Everett led the way with a career-high six. Fellow junior Amelia Nott joined her with six for match honors.
- Morehead State trailed the Red Storm 9-4 in service aces. The Eagles committed 21 service errors to four for St. John's.
- Sydney Sennett led with 21 assists. Logan Smith added 15 for the Eagles, who held a 40-25 assist advantage.
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