Rachel Essner
Staff Writer
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The Murray State volleyball team opened conference play with a two-game sweep against Eastern Illinois University in their home opener on Friday, Sept. 24, and Saturday, Sept. 25.
Game One
The Racers won the first home game of the season with a three-set win over the Panthers.
Murray State took control from the start, taking the first set 25-16. Keeping their momentum, the Racers took the next two sets 25-15 and 25-21, respectively, for a 3-0 win in game one against the Panthers.
The Racers set a season-high of 16 total blocks, including 12 block assists from senior middle blocker Kolby McClelland, junior outside hitter Alysha Smith, freshman outside hitter Alexa Harris, freshman setter Bailey DeMier, sophomore outside hitter Morgan Price and sophomore middle blocker Taylor Beasley.
Freshman outside hitter Brooke Lynn Watts led the Racers’ offense with 13 total kills followed by Harris with 10, McClelland with seven and DeMier with six. DeMier also tallied 30 assists.
On the defensive side, senior libero Becca Fernandez recorded 17 digs, while Watts and sophomore defensive specialist Dahlia Miller counted eight apiece and Harris and DeMier each collected five.
Game Two
The Racers struck again with another three-set sweep in their second game against the Panthers.
The Panthers and Racers kept the score close in the first two sets, ending each one 25-21 with the Racers coming out on top. A 25-17 score at the end of the third set gave the Racers a 3-0 win in the match, sweeping both games of the series.
McClelland and Watts led the offense with 12 and 13 respective kills followed by Smith, Beasley and Harris with seven, six and five kills respectively. McClelland also contributed three block assists while Harris finished with a team-high .538 hitting percentage.
Fernandez collected 10 digs for her 30th straight game of double digit digs while DeMier earned a double-double with 11 digs and 34 assists.
The Racers will travel to Morehead State University to compete in their second conference series of the season on Friday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.