After falling behind two sets to none, Morehead State volleyball's furious comeback came up just short in the final furlong. The Racers (17-9, 11-3) jumped out to an early advantage, claiming the first two sets 27-25 and 25-13 before the Eagles (18-9, 9-5) captured the next two 25-23 and 25-19. Murray State eventually seized the match, taking a tight final set 15-11.
In a match that featured the Ohio Valley Conference's top attacker, it was Morehead State's redshirt senior middle blocker Jessie Wachtman who logged the game's highest kill count. Wachtman slammed home a career-best 21 kills, besting her previous high of 18 set earlier in the season versus Jacksonville State. She added a .375 hitting efficiency on 40 total swings to put a bow on her career day.
Elsewhere offensively, sophomore outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier tallied 19 total terminations, recording at least 19 in a match for the third time this season. Fellow sophomore outside hitter Lauren Rokey chipped in 12 kills to give the Eagles three attackers in double-figures.
Running the show, redshirt sophomore setter Chandler Clark dished out 59 assists, falling an assist shy of her career-best mark. Clark coordinated her team's efforts, leading the team to a .231 efficiency. Senior middle blocker Maddie Fella (.400, 7-1-15) and Clark (.375, 3-0-8) teamed with Wachtman's .375 efficiency to construct the Eagles hitting percentage.
For the 11th time this season, the Eagles' backline scooped up 60 or more digs, totaling 62 saves in the match. Freshman libero Allison Whitten led Morehead State with 15 digs in a group effort that saw 10 players record digs. Clark (8), senior right-side hitter Jordan Jones (7), redshirt freshman defensive specialist Taylor Hodges (7), freshman defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani (7), and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Liz Allen (6) each dug up six or more for the Eagles.
At the net, Morehead State turned away seven total Murray State attacks. Fella led all Eagles with four blocks as she creeps towards 100 total on the season. Clark, Lohmeier, Rokey, and Wachtman each deterred at least two attacks for Morehead State on the afternoon.
The Eagles wrap the 2018 regular season next weekend with a pair of matches with the OVC's Nashville contingent. Morehead State hosts Tennessee State and Belmont Friday and Saturday with match times set at 7 p.m. ET and 2 p.m.
