The Morehead State volleyball team cruised to a three-set sweep (25-23, 25-17, 25-19) over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans Saturday at Johnson Arena thanks to an efficient day across the board.
The out-of-conference win improved the Eagles' overall record to 3-0 on the season, earning them the 2023 Eagle Challenge title. The 3-0 start makes HC Kyrsten Becker-McBride the second coach in Morehead State volleyball history to start their career 3-0 (Dr. Jaime Gordon, 2003), and the first to start their career with three straight sweeps.
The Eagle attack was paced by M.E. Hargan, who finished with 12 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .345, and by Hollan Everett, who had 10 while hitting .529. Defensively, MSU got 21 digs from Peighton Isley to lead the team.
Morehead State were efficient in their attack, finishing the day with a .287 hitting percentage.
After the conclusion of the tournament, M.E. Hargan, Peighton Isley, and Amelia Nott were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Hargan being named Eagle Challenge MVP after posting 31 kills (3.44 K/S), 29 digs, four aces, and one assist.
GAME NOTES
» Courtney Fitzgerald had a team-high two aces in the win.
» Morehead State served up five aces on the way to a first-set victory.
» M.E. Hargan had a match-high 12 kills for Morehead State, finishing one dig shy of a double-double.
» Peighton Isley's 21 digs were a match-high.
» Morehead State attackers were helped by a match-high 32 assists from Brenna Bommer, who finished two digs shy of a double-double for the second straight match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Impressive serving helped the Eagles earn a set-one victory 25-23 as Morehead State totaled five aces in the set. After the lead changed hands three times, the Eagles took control for good at 24-23 and rode that advantage to victory.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Morehead State put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-17 victory in set number two. The Eagles never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7 in a set that showcased three lead changes before Morehead State took control the rest of the way.
SET 3 | Morehead State then ended the match with a victory in set number three. The Eagles took the set 25-19 helped by a solid showing on the attacking end. Morehead State put together a .324 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. The Eagles rallied from down six at 7-1 to grab the win. Morehead State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four South Carolina Upstate attacks in the stanza.
Morehead State hits the road for the first time this season next weekend, taking on Marshall, Akron, and Coppin State in the Marshall Invitational.
Hunter Hurst, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations