Story by Kelsey Randolph, Sports Editor

Returning home after a long trek on the road, the Racer volleyball team notches their regular season record to 11-1 and 21-2 overall.

The team took a long drive to Jacksonville, Alabama to face Jacksonville State, where they won in a four-set match 3-1, and Cookeville, Tennessee to face Tennessee Tech where they also won in a four-set match, 3-1.

“I feel like we lose that first set and then we come back and then we know,” said junior outside hitter Scottie Ingram. “It’s not like us; it’s not what we should be doing. We knew we played with a lot more fire and enthusiasm. The first set is a little bit rough but we’re coming back.”

In both matches the first set was taken by the other team. Head Coach David Schwepker said he feels the team was not focused due to the amount of driving and the mentality of the team at the time.

“We drive all day and as much as we try to make it, we are just crunched and we get out, play, then get back in the car and drive half way and it’s just a mess,” Schwepker said. “It’s a bad trip. We needed those wins. We didn’t play well the first set and we haven’t seen those teams. Traditionally we learn from the first set then we play.”

Against the Gamecocks the Racers hit a .298 attack percentage while Jacksonville only hit a .141 as a team.

Leading the team for the weekend was junior setter, Sam Bedard with 46 assists against Jacksonville State along with 20 digs, which is a team best also putting her as the 4th Racer for the best, all time in career assists, recording 3,292 assists.

Against the Golden Eagles, Ingram made 16 kills, 20 digs and three blocking assists, also making her 10th double-double of the season.

“These teams are going to be tough,” Schwepker said. “We cannot overlook anybody. Anyone who comes in here has the ability to beat us; everyone is that good. We have to concentrate and not get wrapped up in what the other team does. We are working on some different things that we’ve noticed is a pattern.”

Ingram said she finds a sense of relief returning home after two weeks on the road because she feels comfortable on her own court.

“A game on our court is a game on our court,” Ingram said. “We have that fire and we don’t want them to come in and take our game.”

Friday the Racers face UT Martin at 7 p.m. in Racer Arena then return on Saturday to set against Southeast Missouri State at 2 p.m.

  “It’s up in the air,” Schwepker said. “Everybody is good enough that anybody can win. Winning the tournament is a whole other beast.”