Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
ATLANTA, Ga. – Wright State and Morehead State are only about three hours apart, but both volleyball teams traveled more than six hours this weekend to face off here in the Georgia State Invitational Saturday morning. WSU had quick three-set victory on Friday, while the Eagles battled Georgia State for more than two hours. But, MSU didn’t show many ill-effects from a late night as the Eagles defeated the Raiders 3-1 (25-12, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18).
MSU evened its mark to 1-1, while Wright State fell to 1-1.
Emma Keough, Holly Evans and Kaitlin Craven each led MSU with 10 kills. Craven hit .300 and also had 12 digs and five aces. Liz Schuler continued her stellar back row play with a team high 27 digs. Annie Gruenschlaeger notched seven blocks, while Evans had six. Kirstie Brangers handed out 36 assists. The Eagles piled up 13 aces and had 67 digs.
The Eagles opened up the first set on a 9-1 run before the Raiders halted the Eagles’ momentum. A quick two points from WSU didn’t mess up MSU’s rhythm too much, however, as Schuler served up two aces and Evans had two kills in 5-0 run to push MSU’s advantage to 14-3.
The Raiders picked up the next four points to climb back to within 14-7, but freshman Lindsey Roth tallied two aces and sophomore Ellie Roberson landed a kill to switch the momentum back to the Eagles’ side. MSU went on to win the opening set 25-12. The Eagles hit .333 in the opening set with 10 kills and only three misfires. Gruenschlaeger added three blocks and Evans notched two rejections. The Eagles also collected five points via aces.
MSU began the second frame in much the same fashion, opening up a quick 6-1 advantage. MSU continued to build its lead, pushing it out to 16-5 after Gruenschlaeger’s first solo block of the match. After the Eagles led 21-10, WSU scored the next three before an emphatic Evans’ kill stopped the mini-rally. The Eagles eventually won the set 25-16.
The Eagles piled on 14 kills with just three errors in the second set, hitting .250. Schuler collected 10 digs in the set.
The Raiders claimed the early advantage in the third set, going ahead 9-5. MSU had three kill attempts blocked and one fall short into the net. MSU cut the WSU lead down to three, but the Raiders pushed it out again to 20-12. After an Eagle timeout, MSU came out on an 6-1 run to creep to within 21-18, but the Raiders were able to hold on for the 25-21 win.
MSU committed 10 attack errors in the third set, while WSU landed 15 kills with six errors.
The third set shifted back to MSU as it opened up a 10-4 early lead. The Raiders kept it within reach, but MSU gradually was able to increase its lead and march closer to sealing the match. The Raiders crept to within 23-18 before the Eagles scored the final two.
MSU will face North Florida at 5 p.m. to conclude the tournament.
