Murray State came out on top after a five-set battle against the Belmont Bruins on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The Racers got off to a sluggish start, struggling to keep up with the Bruins’ fast-paced playing style. Passes were shanked, sets were off, attacks were not covered, blocks failed to close and the Racers could not seem to effectively communicate on the court. Belmont’s energy subsided slightly, allowing the Racers to tie the game at 11-11 just before Belmont called a timeout. After the break, rallies between the two gradually lengthened, with both sides creating a challenge for one another in the fight for points. The Racers attempted a late surge, but made their move too late, dropping the first set 25-19.
Despite the early setback, the Racers’ heads and hopes remained high entering the second set. Belmont’s energy quickly built however, leading to a kill on the first play. Continuous quick sets from Belmont’s setter Kamryn Olsen posed a significant threat to Murray State, leaving all front-row players late to the block and back row defenders’ job all the more challenging. Offensively, Racer hitters struggled to find a way around Bruin blockers. While there were moments of success for the Racers in this set, it was not enough to turn the tide. Belmont claimed set two with a score of 25-14.
Murray State found themselves in a must-win situation coming into the third set. It had to be a pivoting set if the Racers hoped to stay in the game. They began noting the Bruins’ style of play, making some key tweaks needed to win the set. The stellar defensive work of libero Dahlia Miller prepared a better stage for setter Bailey DeMier to precisely set the hitters. One hitter in particular being Ella Vogel, who eventually received the opportunity to unleash a killer attack. Belmont’s defense did not make this easy, but the remaining Racer hitters found their way as well, like Lily Burnett who turned a broken play into a highlight with a rare middle kill. Capitalizing on Belmont’s errors, the Racers took the third set 25-16.
In the third set, the Racers were learning to survive, but the fourth set was where they began to thrive. Both teams exchanged blows, with the score teetering back and forth. Not long after, the Racers gained momentum. Burnett and Vogel delivered some blistering kills, but the Bruins countered with equally hard-hitting attacks to stay close. Outside hitter Federica Nuccio found her rhythm, joining the two afterwhile. A string of strategic serves gave Paige Brock two aces, leaving the Bruins uncertain on whether balls were in or out. The Bruins were forced to call a timeout. Both teams refused to give in after the break, returning to the back and forth battle for points.
The Racer front row contenders joined the block party, while others effectively covered their block attempts. Head Coach David Schwepker challenged a touch call by the referees, leading to a three-minute review that in the end favored Belmont, tying the score at 24-24. The final two rallies were intense. DeMier repeatedly set up Nuccio, but Belmont’s defense held strong. Realizing a different approach was needed, DeMier executed a well-timed dump, catching the Bruins off guard. Murray State stormed to a 26-24 win in the fourth set, bringing the thunderous Racer fans to their feet.
Entering the fifth and final set, the stakes were high with the game tied at two sets each. Murray State, now well-prepared and confident, came out with renewed energy, knowing the ins-and-outs of their opponent. The Racers started strong, a sheer contrast to their slow beginning in the first set. Their momentum compelled Belmont to call timeout at 9-5. Murray State played smarter, using cleverly positioned backrow dumps to capitalize on gaps in the Bruins’ defense. Defensive specialists contributed exceptionally, covering both offensively and defensively. The Racers even gave Belmont a taste of their own medicine, as DeMier delivered a quick set to outside hitter Darci Metzger, ending in a kill. Ultimately, the Racers sealed the victory over the Bruins with a 15-7 win in the fifth set.
Head Coach David Schwepker reflected on the Racers turnaround in the third set.
“We took some people out and made some changes.”
He explained that the coaching staff gave players time to assess their own performances while off the court which often leads to improved play when they return.
”When we won that third set, we put them back in, and it was just a matter of they can’t be making all of those errors,” Schwepker said.
The Racers will face Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 11 before hitting the road again to meet Northern Iowa on Oct. 12.
