Morehead State volleyball ran its winning streak to six matches, and grad student Olivia Lohmeier became just the fifth-ever player in Ohio Valley Conference history to reach 1,800 career kills, as the Eagles defeated UT Martin in straight sets Friday night at Johnson Arena.
The Homecoming weekend triumph was the fourth straight for MSU over UTM and the 20th in the last 23 times the two teams have played. The Eagles jumped UTM in the OVC race as well, moving to 6-2 and 10-9 overall. The Skyhawks dipped to 6-3 in the league and 10-12 overall.
MSU won the opener 25-23, which included 18 ties and nine lead changes, and cruised to a 25-17 win in the second. UTM actually stared at set point (24-23) in the third before the home team shook it off to outscore their foe 4-1 in the final five points to secure the straight set win.
Lohmeier landed 12 kills tonight to move her career total to 1,811. Her teammate, sophomore Abby Hulsman, bested her by one kill with 13, while freshmen Maycie Welborn and McKenzee Wagner contributed eight terminations apiece. Wagner hit .467 with four blocks as well.
Morehead State was dealing with the top blocking team in the league but stayed close in the net defense category. UTM had eight team blocks, while MSU secured seven turn-aways.
Back row defense was highlighted by junior libero Allison Whitten with 21 digs, her seventh match of 20+ digs.
Freshman setter Brenna BoMmer, who had started several matches earlier this season due to an injury, ran the offense solo again tonight and handed out 40 assists on the Eagles' 48 kills. MSU nearly doubled the Skyhawks on kill totals, 48-29.
