MOREHEAD, Ky. – In a back-and-forth match, the Morehead State volleyball team (4-11) was able to come out on top as they downed TSU, 3-2. The win gives the Eagles a 1-0 start in OVC play. They won the match 26-24, 13-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-13.
In the first set, Morehead State trailed 15-12, but reeled off four straight points to take the lead. After TSU scored four of the next five points, the Eagles responded again, reeling off five straight points this time, to take a 22-19 lead. After failing on three straight set points, MSU was able to regroup and take the set 26-24 following a kill by senior Hannah Sigala and a Tennessee State attack error.
The second set, however, was a different story. The Eagles struggled mightily, allowing the Tigers to record 17 kills and hit .652, and fell, 25-13.
Building off of their momentum, the Tigers jumped out to 14-9, 18-14, and 22-17 leads in the third set. But, the Eagles would respond, in a big way. Staring a 2-1 deficit in the face, they scored eight of the last nine points of the set, including the last seven, to win the set from behind, 25-23. They recorded five kills in the last seven points, two from junior Bailey Nichol, two from freshman Merideth Jewell, and one from Sigala.
The big move in the third set was a switch to a 6-2 offense, as the Eagles went with two setters in Nichol and freshman Jordan Jones.
“We know what both of them (Nichol and Jones) are capable of, but we made that change because we were playing really bad defense,” said head coach Jaime Gordon. “We couldn’t stop Tennessee State. So, if we’re not going to dig the ball, we have to start siding out to get points, and by adding that other attacker I think we were able to get them out of that rhythm that they were in. Instead, we were able to regain the momentum a bit. It was a spark for us.”
Going into the fourth, it was Tennessee State’s turn to respond. Leading 20-17, the Eagles appeared on their way to the win, but TSU rallied to take the lead at 23-21 and eventually won the set, 26-24.
Avoiding the slow starts that have hampered them throughout the early season, Morehead State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the pivotal fifth and led the entire way. The winner coming at 15-13 on a Smith kill from Nichol.
“It means a lot to pull out some close sets,” said Gordon. “There were some really good moments and some character building. We were able to create some offense from different areas, which was critical for us to get the win.”
The Eagles had four players finish with double-digit kills as Sigala led the way with 15 and Nichol, Smith, and junior Sydney Schuler each had 10. Sigala’s 15 kills tied a season-high and she hit an impressive .273. Nichol, who has spent the majority of the season as a setter, embraced the role of attacking, doing so 26 times and hitting .269. Schuler added six block assists to her totals, while hitting .375.
But, it was Smith, who missed the entire season a year ago due to injury, that may have had the best all-around game. She hit a team-best .375 in the win and finished with 11 digs.
“It was really nice to see Courtney Smith play well,” said Gordon. “I thought she had a great match. Being out for a whole season, I think it takes you a little while to get back into the groove, but her last three or four outings, she has just gotten better and better.”
Jewell finished the game with nine kills, but committed 14 errors and hit just -.106. The three-time OVC Newcomer of the Year outwardly struggled for what may have been the first time of the seaon, but her team was able to overcome her rare off-game and get the win.
“We’ve relied on Merideth a lot throughout the season and she’s done a great job, but you can’t expect anyone to be perfect every match,” said Gordon. “We’re a team, a family, and I thought everyone else stepped up.”
The Eagles return home tomorrow night to face Belmont at 5 p.m. Fans can get $1 tickets to the volleyball game if they bring their football ticket stub.
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