Morehead, Ky.-- Morehead State had four players finish with double-digit kills and five with double-digits in digs, turning back Southern Indiana 3-1 Friday night in Johnson Arena in Morehead, Ky.
The set scores were 15-25, 25-13, 25-12, and 25-23.
Morehead State (7,5, 1-0 OVC) was led by senior
M.E. Hargan with 20 kills and a career-high 26 digs. Junior
Hollan Everett finished with 13 kills, hitting .256.
Sarah Heath added 11 terminations and
Amelia Nott finished with 10.
Southern Indiana (4-9, 0-1 OVC) dominated the net in the opening set, registering seven total blocks and holding the Eagles to a -.111 hitting percentage. The Screaming Eagles rode a 10-point run through the middle portion of the set to provide the margin. USI hit .200 with 10 kills on 30 swings.
Morehead State bounced back in the second set, slamming 14 kills on 41 swings for a .317 efficiency. The Eagles held Southern Indiana to just six kills and a .077 attack percentage.
The Eagles kept up the momentum in the third set limiting USI to a -.044 hitting percentage, while registering 13 kills while hitting .237. The Eagles out-dug USI 26-19 in the frame.
MSU closed out the match with a strong fourth set hitting a .278 efficiency, led by seven kills by Hargan and six by Everett.
Morehead State and Southern Indiana will close out the series Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 2:00.
NOTABLE
- Southern Indiana came into the match leading the Ohio Valley Conference averaging over 17 digs per set. MSU posted a season-high 94 digs to 79 for USI in the match. The Eagles had five players finish with double-figures in digs. Hargan's 26 led, followed by Courtney Fitzgerald with 17, Tinsley Brown set a new career high with 15, and Logan Smith and Sydney Sennett with 14 apiece, a season highs for Smith.
- Southern Indiana had a 14-7 advantage in blocks, led by McKenzie Murphy with a career high 10 total blocks. Amelia Nott led the Eagles with three blocks. Bailey Brashear, Everett and Sydney Sennett added two apiece.
- Sennett finished with 47 assists, one shy of tying her career high and recorded her 15th career double-double.
- USI had a 4-3 edge in service aces. They had 11 service errors; Morehead State finished with 10 miscues.
