Story by Magiann Ackerman
Contributing writer
mackerman@murraystate.edu
Murray State volleyball advanced to an eight-game winning streak following the victory over Southeast Missouri University 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, and 25-17.
The two seniors on the team, Dacia Brown and Liza Gober, were honored before the game for their contributions on and off the court for the university.
Brown was able to set a new career high for kills this season with 20 in the game against Jacksonville State University and was one of four players to play all 31 games last season. Last season Gober recorded 18 kills and was able to hit over .300 for the Racers in the game against Jacksonville State.
In the first set of the game, the Racers maintained an early lead. A quick set from Murray State sophomore setter Ashley McBee allowed sophomore middle blocker Katirah Johnson to execute a kill, putting the Racers up 13-9.
Murray State was able to hold onto the lead after a kill from the right side by Murray State senior middle blocker Dacia Brown made the score 17-13.
However, the Redhawks took flight and tied the score at 19 after a service ace by SEMO sophomore defensive specialist Ally Dion led them to a four-point run.
The final points of the set were back-and-forth until errors made by the Racers allowed SEMO to slip away and claim the first set 25-22.
The second set started with the Redhawks going on a run to put Murray State down 4-0.
Brown was able to claim the Racers’ first point of the game after a kill assisted by McBee.
Errors made by SEMO and a successful back-row attack by Brown allowed the Racers to cut their deficit to 6-5.
A hustle play to chase down a shanked ball by Murray State sophomore libero Becca Fernandez, allowed another kill to be commanded by Brown. The Racers were able to keep Brown behind the line to serve nine-consecutive points to hold the lead at 15-8.
The Redhawks were unable to come back after the massive run and the Racers won the second 25-15.
The third set was neck-and-neck with a total of six tied scores along with a couple of lead changes.
Murray State, however, was able to take the lead in the middle of the set, after an illegal rotation violation called against SEMO resulted in the score being 16-15.
The score extended to 22-17 following a kill by Murray State junior outside hitter Rachel Giustino.
A wisely-placed tip deep in the back corner by Johnson put the Racers at set point 24-19.
Despite another service ace by Dion and a back-row kill by SEMO sophomore outside hitter Laney Malloy, Murray State was able to cut the Cinderella story short and win the set 25-20.
SEMO was able to take an early lead in the final set after errors produced by the Racers allowed the score to be 6-4.
Murray State made up for its mistakes after kills by Brown and Giustino put the Racers up 16-11.
A four-point run from the Redhawks and a kill by Malloy cut Murray State’s lead to 17-16.
A service error by SEMO, a put back over the net by McBee and a service ace by Giustino made the Racers one point away from remaining undefeated at home.
The fat lady finally sang after Johnson laid down a solo block, and the game ended 25-17.
McBee discussed the attitude the team had to defeat SEMO after previously losing to the team earlier in the season.
“It was kinda like a grudge match for us,” McBee said. “We lost to them in five, so coming out today we knew we had to be on top of our game. We couldn’t do the things we did when we lost. We had to play better than them.”
On the night honoring Murray State’s seniors, Head Coach David Schwepker complemented the play of Brown and Gober.
“It’s emotional. It’s always emotional,” Schwepker said. “You can tell it was emotional when they started playing. Dacia started out tentative put picked herself up in the second set and Liza did a great job going in there and did really great for us also.”
Brown said the time leading up to the game was plagued with emotion.
“I did all my crying yesterday, so I came in today, collected myself, but I think I was overplaying,” Brown said. “I made more mistakes then, but I got going, settled down, and calmed down.”
Murray State volleyball (14-9) (8-3) will continue at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, in Racer Arena against the UT Martin.