#2 Morehead State 3, #7 Belmont 0
11/18/2021 2:49:00 PM | Volleyball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Morehead State Volleyball advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at SEMO Thursday with a 3-0 sweep over seventh seeded Belmont.
The Eagles (19-11), the second seed, completed a straight-set season sweep over the Bruins - also winning in straight sets in both regular-season matchups. The Eagles now advance to play third-seed Austin Peay on Friday at 4 p.m. ET. MSU won 25-16, 25-21, 25-17.
Sophomore Abby Hulsman led the Eagles with 14 kills, her sixth double-digit match in her last seven outings, while freshman McKenzee Wagener smashed 11 kills on a season-best .529 attack efficiency. Wagener also added three blocks to get 115 total blocks for the season.
Defensively, junior libero Allison Whitten moved above the 500-dig plateau for the season with a match-high 22 scoops as the OVC leaders in digs won that battle, 61-48, over the Bruins.
Morehead State, also the OVC team leader in kills and assists, had a significant advantage in successful terminations at 51-32. Bridget Bessler handed out 41 assists on the 51 kills, and she also added seven digs. The Eagles also landed six aces.
The first set was tied 11-all, but Wagener sparked a 10-2 run book ended by a Bessler dump kill. Belmont actually ran out to a 6-1 lead in the second set, but a subsequent 10-4 flurry for MSU got it the lead back at 11-10 after Hulsman's kill. The set was tied 15-all later, but the Eagles outscored the Bruins 10-5 to gain the 2-0 cushion.
The third set featured a similar scenario as the Bruins led 10-9 before an 11-2 run gave the Eagles the momentum to hold off Belmont.
MSU finished with a .282 attack percentage, its second highest this season against a league opponent.
Belmont's Mary Catherine Bal and Lauren Walsh led the Bruins with seven kills each. Rachel McBride paced the defense with 13 digs.
The Eagles (19-11), the second seed, completed a straight-set season sweep over the Bruins - also winning in straight sets in both regular-season matchups. The Eagles now advance to play third-seed Austin Peay on Friday at 4 p.m. ET. MSU won 25-16, 25-21, 25-17.
Sophomore Abby Hulsman led the Eagles with 14 kills, her sixth double-digit match in her last seven outings, while freshman McKenzee Wagener smashed 11 kills on a season-best .529 attack efficiency. Wagener also added three blocks to get 115 total blocks for the season.
Defensively, junior libero Allison Whitten moved above the 500-dig plateau for the season with a match-high 22 scoops as the OVC leaders in digs won that battle, 61-48, over the Bruins.
Morehead State, also the OVC team leader in kills and assists, had a significant advantage in successful terminations at 51-32. Bridget Bessler handed out 41 assists on the 51 kills, and she also added seven digs. The Eagles also landed six aces.
The first set was tied 11-all, but Wagener sparked a 10-2 run book ended by a Bessler dump kill. Belmont actually ran out to a 6-1 lead in the second set, but a subsequent 10-4 flurry for MSU got it the lead back at 11-10 after Hulsman's kill. The set was tied 15-all later, but the Eagles outscored the Bruins 10-5 to gain the 2-0 cushion.
The third set featured a similar scenario as the Bruins led 10-9 before an 11-2 run gave the Eagles the momentum to hold off Belmont.
MSU finished with a .282 attack percentage, its second highest this season against a league opponent.
Belmont's Mary Catherine Bal and Lauren Walsh led the Bruins with seven kills each. Rachel McBride paced the defense with 13 digs.
Friday, June 26
Monday, June 15
Thursday, June 04
Thursday, June 04
