Story by Jon Dunning
Contributing writer
Murray State volleyball hit the road for matchups with Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech, going 1-1 to advance to a 13-9 overall record and a 7-3 record in OVC play.
Murray State vs. Jacksonville State
After two successful games last weekend, the Murray State volleyball team suffered a 1-3 defeat on Friday in an away game against Jacksonville State University.
Senior outside hitter Rachel Giustino led the Racers in kills with 16, while sophomore middle blocker Kolby McClelland and senior right-side hitter Rachel Holthaus both scored 13. Junior setter and outside hitter Ashley McBee made 30 assists. Junior libero Becca Fernandez and Giustino both made 12 digs.
The Racers opened the first set of the game 4-1 with kills by McClelland, Giustino and freshman outside hitter and setter Alysha Smith. Murray State expanded their lead to 7-3, but Jacksonville rebounded to make the game 8-8. A kill by McClelland put the Racers back on top 9-8. The Racers held the lead until the Gamecocks tied the score at 18-18, then took the lead 19-18. Jacksonville State maintained the momentum and won the set 25-19.
Jacksonville State opened the second set 2-0 before McClelland scored a kill to put the Racers on the board 2-1. The Gamecocks led the Racers for most of the set before Murray State started to mount a comeback with the score 18-12. Holthaus scored two kills and McClelland scored a kill, making it a 15-18 game.
The Gamecocks scored again, but a kill by Holthaus and three kills by McClelland led the Racers to tie the score 19-19. The teams played neck-and-neck at the end of the set but kills from Giustino and Holthaus allowed the Racers to take the set.
Jacksonville State jumped to a 4-1 lead at the start of the third set and stayed in front of the Racers until Murray State came back to take the lead 9-8. The Racers gained momentum, raising their lead to 14-9, but it was not enough to stop Jacksonville State from regaining the lead 16-15.
Two kills by Giustino allowed the Racers to take back control of the game 19-17, but the Gamecocks quickly found an answer and overtook Murray State 21-20. Jacksonville State took their second set of the night 25-21.
The fourth set of the night began with Jacksonville State taking a 2-0 lead. The Racers trailed the Gamecocks closely with three kills by McClelland, a kill by Giustino, a kill by Holthaus and a kill by Smith to make the score 9-7.
Jacksonville State managed to build on their lead, however, making it 16-10. Murray State fought back to close the gap to 19-18, but Jacksonville could not be stopped. The Gamecocks took the set 25-19, giving Jacksonville State a 3-1 win over Murray State.
Following the game, Murray State Head Coach David Schwepker explained why he thought the Racers lost to Jacksonville State.
“I thought their whole game was good,” Schwepker said. “Their offense was incredible; that’s why they are number one in the conference with their offense. And then their blocking was good and then their defense was very, very good.”
Schwepker offered a direct answer on what he told the the Racers following the loss.
“We talked about nothing,” Schwepker said. “Let’s forget this game and let’s go and be ready for [Tennessee] Tech tomorrow.”
Murray State vs. Tennessee Tech
Following a tough loss to Jacksonville State on Friday, the Murray State volleyball team won 3-1 over Tennessee Tech University on the road on Saturday in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Senior outside hitter Rachel Giustino led the Racers in kills with 22. Giustino also led Murray State in digs with 18. Junior setter Callie Anderton made 54 assists.
The first set of the night began with the Golden Eagles rising to a 3-0 lead before the Racers responded to make it a 3-2 game. Tennessee Tech continued to stay ahead of Murray State until a kill by freshman outside hitter and setter Alysha Smith tied the game 8-8, and a kill by senior right-side hitter Rachel Holthaus gave the Racers their first lead of the night 9-8.
The Golden Eagles managed to retake the lead though, and the game was 16-12 before the Racers mounted a comeback. Two kills by Smith and two kills by Giustino helped the Racers tie the game once more at 18-18.
Kills by sophomore outside hitter and right-side Emily Matson and Anderton pushed Murray State to a lead of 22-20. With a kill by Giustino, Murray State went on to take the set 25-21.
Tennessee Tech opened the first set and rose to a lead of 4-1. Two kills by Giustino allowed the Racers to tie the game 5-5, and Murray State eventually took the lead 11-9 with two kills by Holthaus, a kill by Anderton and a kill by Matson. The Racers held on to the lead until the Golden Eagles tied the game again at 20-20. With the momentum on their side, Tennessee Tech won the set 25-22.
The third set began with Tennessee Tech up 3-1. The Golden Eagles held the lead throughout the first half of the set, but the Racers managed to overtake the them 12-11. Two kills by Giustino, two kills by Smith and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Rachel Kinney pushed the Racers to 20-15. A kill by Holthaus and a kill by Smith led the Racers to win the set 25-20.
The Racers opened the fourth set 2-0 with a kill by senior outside hitter Megan Lindsay. However, Tennessee Tech fought to take the lead 7-5.
Two kills by Holthaus and a kill by Kinney allowed the Racers to regain the lead 9-8, but the Golden Eagles rebounded to make the score 12-9. The Racers fought back to regain the lead with a kill by Lindsay and a kill by Giustino, making the score 16-15.
The Golden Eagles jumped back out in front briefly at 18-17, but a kill by Holthaus and two kills by Kinney put the Racers up 20-18. Giustino scored a kill to give Murray State the set 25-21, allowing the Racers to win the game 3-1.
Following the win, Head Coach David Schwepker discussed whether he had confidence in the team’s defense in tough games.
“I do, game in game out depends upon their block and all of that stuff,” Schwepker said. “As long as we take out the win, I’m good.”
Schwepker also commented on Smith’s growth this season after her great performance in the game against Tennessee Tech.
“You can just see her grow each time,” Schwepker said. “She gets a little more confidence, she gets going. That’s huge for her, you know, as a freshman and getting out there and doing some really good things.”
The Racers will play SIU Edwardsville for the second time this season at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, at Racer Arena.
