© 2024 WMKY
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Offensive Outburst Propels Volleyball to a Sweep Over In-State Rival Eastern Kentucky

MSU Athletics

In front of a raucous crowd at Wetherby Gym on Wednesday, Morehead State volleyball swept in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. The Eagles (12-4, 3-0 OVC) downed the Colonels (3-12, 2-1) in straight sets, taking the sets 25-19, 25-20, 25-22.

"It was a fun night. We had a great atmosphere, the fans were great," said head coach Jamie Gordon. "Anytime you line up against EKU in any sport there's fun emotion. As we told our team, this is what college athletics is all about, it's representing your university and our players are blessed with the opportunity to do that and it's fun to come out on top with a win."

The Eagles downed their opponent on the offensive end, slamming home 48 winners in the three-set match. Morehead State picked up at least 13 kills in each set, led by a staggering 19 kills in set number two. Sophomore outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier led the way registering 17 terminations with just two errors to hit a match-high .441. As a team, the Eagles hit .250.

“A big credit to EKU, they were forcing us to earn our points," added Gordon. "We got a couple freebies in the third set, they kind of let us off some struggles we were going through, but it was nice to see Liv [Lohmeier] get into a great rhythm, especially in the second and third sets."

Elsewhere offensively, sophomore outside hitter Lauren Rokey added double-digit kills, totaling 10. Redshirt senior middle blocker Jessie Wachtman added six, while seniors Jordan Jones and Maddie Fella chipped in six apiece.

The conductor in the orchestra that was Morehead State's offense, redshirt sophomore setter Chandler Clark dished out 41 total assists (13.67 per set). In the second set alone, Clark assisted on 17 of 19 kills for the Eagles' offense. In OVC play, she's distributed 141 helpers, totaling a whopping 12.81 per set. In addition to 41 assists, Clark added a team-high 12 digs to collect her seventh double-double of the season.

Gordon remarked, "She [Clark] is the conduit. We've been getting great first contacts from our passers and even when it's not exactly where we want it Chandler's doing a really good job of bettering that ball and getting good attacking opportunities for our pins and middles."

Defensively, Morehead State limited Eastern Kentucky to a .185 hitting percentage, forcing 16 errors on 108 swings. The Eagles blocked four total shots with Lohmeier (2), Fella (1), Jones (1), and Rokey (1) turning shots away at the net. In the back row, freshman libero Allison Whitten added 11 digs, combining with Clark to give the Eagles a pair of players with double-digit digs.

Right-side hitter Cassie Knutson led the visitors with 12 total kills, chipping in 10 assists to record a double-double. Libero Chloe Rojas totaled a match-high 17 digs to pace the Colonels defensively.

Morehead State returns to action Saturday, traveling to Clarksville, Tenn. to take on OVC-foe Austin Peay (13-2, 3-0 OVC). First serve is set for 3 p.m. ET.

Related Content