Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
18-9 (12-3OVC)
Eastern Illinois
10-20 (5-10OVC)
Big Nights From Fernandez and McBee Lead Racers to 12th Straight Win
11/9/2018 8:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Two Racers nearly set school records, Friday evening, as Murray State swept Eastern Illinois, 27-25, 25-23, and 29-27.
Sophomores Ashley McBee and Becca Fernandez were remarkable as McBee had 54 assists for an average of 18 per set while Fernandez had 38 digs for an average of 12.66 per set. Both marks are in the top two all-time and are the top mark in the rally-scoring era (since 2001).
Dacia Brown led the Racers with 16 kills followed closely behind by Rachel Giustino who had 15. Rachel Holthaus also reached double-digit kills with 11 while hitting a team-high .440.
Murray State has now won 12 straight and sit at 12-3 in the OVC and 18-9 overall, while EIU falls to 5-10 in conference play and 10-20 overall.
The Racers jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the first set and expanded that lead to 12-7 before the Panthers clawed back to within one at 18-17. Murray State followed with three straight points to take a four-point lead, but again EIU fought back to tie the set at 22. After trading points, the Racers finally won two straight with a kill by Kolby McClelland and a block by McClelland and Giustino to win the set, 27-25.
In set two, the Racers built an early lead and expanded it to 20-13. However, a 7-1 run by the Panthers got them back within one at 21-20. Murray State won the next three points to get to set point, but EIU again responded with three straight points to get back within one. That was as close as they would get as the Panthers would commit a service error on the next point.
EIU jumped to an early lead in the third set as they held on to a 14-10 lead about midway through the set. However, the Racers responded with six straight points to take a two-point lead. Murray State continued to hold the lead as the reached set point at 24-23, but the Panthers won the next point to extend the match a little longer. EIU took a 26-25 lead, but the Racers won four of the next four of the next five points to take the set and the match.
The Racers will wrap up the regular season, tomorrow afternoon, when they battle SIUE at 2 p.m. in Edwardsville.
