In the team's final tune-up prior to the 2019 season opener, Morehead State volleyball downed Bellarmine in an exhibition match Saturday. The Eagles defeated the Knights in four sets, dropping the first 25-19 before rattling off three straight set victories (25-17, 25-20, and 25-17).
The two teams played a bonus fifth set with Bellarmine capturing the set 15-9.
Offensively, Morehead State recorded 51 kills over the match's five-set duration with 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2019 Preseason All-OVC team member Olivia Lohmeier leading the match with 14 kills. Sophomore middle blockers Hannah Keating and Mia Swearingen each fell a kill shy of double-figures, finishing with nine kills apiece.
Freshman Abby Hulsman (eight), redshirt junior Chandler Clark and freshman Kinsey McAfee (three), redshirt junior Liz Allen and freshman Bridget Bessler (two), and freshman Peyton Kennedy (one) each added kills for the Eagles.
Alternating sets, Morehead State's two setters (Clark and Bessler) along with a host of defensive specialists (Taylor Hodges, Danielle McCarson, Olivia Montelisciani, and Allison Whitten) combined to dish out 49 total assists on the team's 51 kills. Bessler led the way with 24 helpers while Clark chipped in an additional 17.
Defensively, the Eagles dug up 69 total balls with a trio of Eagles recording double-figure totals. Sophomore libero Whitten paced the team with 18 digs while Montelisciani (11) and McCarson (10) each recorded double-digit digs. Ten additional players recorded a dig for the Eagles with Clark leading the group with eight.
At the net, Morehead State turned away eight shots with Swearingen leading the way with six total blocks (all assists). Also tallying blocks were Lohmeier (three), Keating (two), Allen, Bessler, Clark, and Hulsman (one).
Morehead State opens the 2019 season next weekend, travelling to Rock Hill, S.C. to compete in the Cristi Curtis Volleyball Invitational. The two-day event will see the Eagles playing host Winthrop (8/30, 1 p.m. ET), North Carolina A&T (8/30, 4 p.m.), and Davidson (8/31, 1 p.m.).
