Career-best efforts from several players pushed Morehead State volleyball past Davidson Saturday morning. The Eagles (2-1) outlasted the Wildcats (0-2) in a five-set affair, taking the match with set scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, and 15-11.
Leading the numerous career-bests for Morehead State was junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey. Rokey slammed home a career-high 22 kills on 38 swings. She committed just two errors to swing an outstanding .526 from the outside.
Additional career-high kill totals dotted the box score as sophomore middle blocker Hannah Keating tied her career-best mark with 14 kills while freshman outside hitter Abby Hulsman notched the first six kills of her career. Keating finished the match with a .455 hitting percentage out of the middle while Hulsman connected at a .385 clip.
Also in double-figures for Morehead State were junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier who registered 14 kills while sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen added 10 of her own.
Directing the offense, freshman setter Bridget Bessler passed out 50 helpers across the final four sets. Bessler's career-high assist total marks the most assists in a match for a true freshman since 2013 when Bailey Nichol passed out 47 assists against Austin Peay. Bessler took the reins of offense following the first set, a set which saw redshirt junior Chandler Clark dish out 12 assists.
Defensively, Morehead State had four back row players collect 10 or more digs for the second time this season. Sophomore libero Allison Whitten once again reached double-figures, pacing the backline with 18 digs. Also in double-digits were redshirt sophomore Taylor Hodges (14), redshirt senior Danielle McCarson (13), and sophomore Olivia Montelisciani (12).
At the net, Morehead State held Davidson to just a .193 hitting percentage, deterring eight total shots. A trio of Eagles collected three total blocks apiece with Keating, Rokey, and Swearingen leading the team. Bessler, Hulsman, and Lohmeier would also add a block apiece for the Eagles.
In the service game, Morehead State eclipsed last season's single-match high in service aces as the team landed 13 aces. Montelisciani led the match with six service aces-a career-high and the most by an Eagle in a match since 2016.
Following the season's opening weekend, Morehead State returns home to host the 2019 Eagle Challenge. The Eagles host Presbyterian, Georgia State, and Providence in the two-day event. First serve for all three Morehead State matches are set for 11 a.m. ET and 7 p.m. Friday (Presbyterian and Georgia State) and 12 p.m. Saturday (Providence).
