Ending a five-game losing skid to regional rival Marshall, Morehead State volleyball snapped the streak in grand fashion Thursday night. The Eagles (7-3) defeated the Thundering Herd (7-4) in a five-set thriller to bring the volleyball version of the Ellis T. Johnson Trophy back home.
Morehead State outlasted Marshall, taking the match with set scores of 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, and 15-13.
Offense paved the way for the Eagles as junior outside hitter Olivia Lohmeier fashioned the 15th 30-plus kill match in Morehead State volleyball history. She slammed home a career-best 32 kills on 73 swings, hitting .329 from multiple spots on the floor. Lohmeier's performance marked the first 30-plus kill match for Morehead State since Ellie Roberson notched 32 kills against Tennessee Tech in 2012. Lohmeier also chipped in 11 digs on the night, securing the second double-double of her career.
Directing the offense for the Eagles, true freshman setter Bridget Bessler authored a career-best performance, passing out 69 helpers in the match. In just her third career start, she became the first true freshman setter to collect 60 or more assists since Casie Garland in 2001. Bessler too collected her second career double-double, adding 10 digs.
Junior outside hitter Lauren Rokey and sophomore middle blocker Mia Swearingen both collected double-figure kill totals for Morehead State. Rokey tallied 17 kills while Swearingen added a career-best 12 terminations. Overall, the Eagles collected 74 kills in the match, 71 of which were assisted.
Defensively, Morehead State produced two additional players with double-digit digs. Captaining the Eagle backline, sophomore libero Allison Whitten collected a team-high 18 balls while sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Montelisciani chipped in 14 digs. Nearly reaching double-figures, redshirt senior Danielle McCarson added nine digs.
At the net, Morehead State collected six total blocks, five of which were solo deterrents. Swearingen paced the Eagles' block with four total blocks with three of her four blocks being solo. Redshirt junior outside hitter Liz Allen added three total blocks, including two solos.
In service, Morehead State collected four aces. Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Taylor Hodges, Lohmeier, Montelisciani, and Whitten each collecting one winner apiece.
For Marshall, outside hitter Ciara Debell tallied a team-best 20 kills while libero Amber Weber totaled a match-best 30 digs.
Morehead State continues the Comfort Inn-Vitational Friday night, hosting Coppin State. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET.
