Murray State volleyball took their last road trip of the regular season on Nov. 8-9, as they traveled to Evansville and Terre Haute, Indiana to play Evansville and Indiana State.
Nov. 8 @ Evansville
Murray State Racers pulled off a 3-1 victory against the University of Evansville, securing a season sweep against the Purple Aces and marking their first win in Evansville since 1997. This four-set match showcased the Racers’ adaptability, with the team overcoming a slow start to maintain the fourth spot in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
The match opened with Evansville’s strong offensive play, particularly from the right side. Conversely, the Racers struggled to find rhythm on offensive consistency early on, going 8-for-31 in kill attempts just a little over halfway through the first set. This along with some miscommunication and a few missed blocks on defense prevented the racers from gaining momentum. Erratic kills created a handful of brief highlights for Murray State, keeping the Racers around just before the Purple Aces found one last surge, clinching the first set, 25-21.
In the second set, Murray State turned the tide. An early 4-0 run by the Aces was ended by Ella Vogel’s right-side kill, sparking an energy shift for the Racers. Haidi Miliou, Darci Metzger and Vogel dominated at the net and tactical dumps were delivered by setter Bailey DeMier. On defense, the Racers adjusted, improving their coverage and closing blocks, securing Murray State’s first lead of the set at 14-13. The Racers extended their advantage, with Metzger sealing the set at 25-21 with her third kill.
Murray State carried their momentum into the third set with standout performances from Metzger and Vogel, who delivered key kills, and Miliou, who capitalized on defensive gaps in the Aces’ court. The Racers surged to a 5-0 run, stretching their lead to 19-10, and ultimately closed the set at 25-15.
The fourth set saw tenacious efforts on both sides, highlighted by Vogel’s emphatic right-side attacks and Miliou’s middles. The Racers tightened their defense, with DeMier and Metzger leading a double block and crucial digs carried the Racers to match point, where Nuccio’s cross-court finish sealed the win, 25-20.
Nov. 9 @ Indiana State
The Racers finished their Indiana road trip with their second meeting against the Indiana State, sweeping the Sycamores on Nov. 9.
The Racers captured the first set 25-16, setting the tone early on. The momentum continued on to the second set where the Racers completed 15 kills. The Sycamores trailed closely behind, but the Racers maintained their advantage, concluding the second set in 25-22. The third set began with a close exchange of points, but Murray State quickly found a surge to put down another 15 kills while capitalizing on Indiana State’s attacking errors.
On offense, Darci Metzger and Ella Vogel led the team with a total of 14 kills each and Haidi Miliou contributed steadily with nine. Vogel also saw some success at the service line, delivering two aces. On defense, Metzger, Miliou and Federica Nuccio led the Racers in blocks at the net. In the back row, Dahlia Miller, Vogel, and Lily Burnett held their own to lead the Racers in digs.
Up next, the Racers will return home to host the Bradley University Braves on Friday, Nov. 15 at Racer Arena.
