In the final home game for Morehead State's four-player senior class, the Eagles send their seniors out in style, dispatching Belmont in three sets. The victory secured the Eagles (20-9, 11-5 OVC) their first 20-win campaign since 2013 as the Eagles locked in the #3 seed in the OVC Tournament.
Morehead State swept the Bruins (5-23, 5-11 OVC) by scores of 25-15, 25-19, and 25-17. The Eagles limited Belmont to a .000 hitting percentage, forcing 28 total errors while the Bruins recorded only 28 kills.
In holding Belmont to a .000 hitting efficiency, the Eagles reached double-digits in total blocks for the tenth time this season. Morehead State blocked 10 total attacks as senior middle blockers Maddie Fella and Jessie Wachtman paced the block, deterring five and four attacks apiece, each picking up a solo block. Fellow senior, right-side hitter, Jordan Jones chipped in three blocks apiece while sophomore outside hitters Olivia Lohmeier (three) and Lauren Rokey (two) also recorded blocks.
Behind the block, freshman libero Allison Whitten scooped up 10 balls, recording 10 or more digs for the 18th consecutive match. Whitten paced an Eagles' defensive group that dug up 48 total balls while 10 players recorded digs, including a trio of defensive specialists-Alyssa Cecil, Taylor Hodges, and Olivia Montelisciani-that scooped up seven balls.
On the attack, Lohmeier reached double-digit kills for the tenth straight match, leading the Eagles with 16 total kills. In addition to her 16 terminations, she committed just one error to produce a .469 efficiency from the outside, a total that led all players in the match. Wachtman and Rokey added seven kills apiece, slotting behind Lohmeier on the scoresheet.
As a team, Morehead State hit .245 for the match, its fourth consecutive match hitting .200 or better. Redshirt sophomore setter Chandler Clark dished out 31 assists as the Eagles recorded 38 kills on the afternoon.
With the regular season coming to an end, Morehead State readies for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Eagles as the #3 seed will face the #6 seed in the opening match of the OVC Tournament with match time to be determined. All rounds of the three-day event will be streamed through ESPN 3 (opening round) and ESPN+ (semifinals and championship) with links available through http://www.MSUEagles.com
