Rachel Essner
Staff Writer
ressner1@murraystate.edu
The Murray State volleyball team traveled to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Sunday, March 28, and Monday, March 29, to take on Southeast Missouri State University, where the Racers dropped the two-game series against the Redhawks 3-0 both games. The Racers dropped their record to 5-11 overall to end the season.
Game One
The Redhawks swept the Racers in game one, winning 25-19, 25-23 and 25-16. This was the first time freshman outside hitter Taylor Beasley had the opportunity to play against her sister, SEMO’s sophomore outside hitter Zoey Beasley in a collegiate match.
Freshman opposite hitter Jayla Holcombe led the Racers’ offense with eight kills followed by redshirt junior middle blocker Kolby McClelland with six and freshman outside hitter Morgan Price with four.
Three Racers had double-digit digs with junior libero Becca Fernandez leading with 16, senior setter Callie Anderton next with 14 and McClelland with 12. Anderton also tallied 19 assists for the Racers.
The opening set was a game of back-and-forth. With the teams tied at six, SEMO used an 8-2 run to pull ahead 14-8. However, the Racers fought back with blocks from Price and Beasley to tie the score at 16. With a 9-3 run, the Redhawks were able to take the set at 25-19.
The Racers opened the second set using a run to lead 5-1. The Redhawks fought back with a 6-1 run to take the 7-6 advantage. The teams went back and forth until the Redhawks used another 6-1 run to pull ahead 19-14. With kills from McClelland, Beasley, Holcombe and Price, the Racers were able to come within one point of the Redhawks at 23-24, but a kill from SEMO closed out the set 25-23.
The teams opened set three with the score tied 7-7. However, a 9-2 run put the Redhawks ahead 16-9. The teams traded points, but the Racers were not able to catch up with the Redhawks, who closed out the set 25-16.
“Southeast had a very good, big block and our girls just did not adjust to it very well,” said Head Coach David Schwepker. “We struggled getting past the block and getting kills on our own.”
Game Two
The Redhawks swept the Racers in game two of the series, winning 25-22, 25-19 and 25-18 on Monday, March 29. The game concluded the season for the Racers as the Redhawks moved on to the OVC semifinal game.
Anderton ended her last game with the Racers with 16 assists, nine digs and two kills.
McClelland led the Racers with eight kills, seven digs and two blocks while junior outside hitter Emily Matson contributed five kills and freshman middle blocker Darci Metzger added four kills.
Fernandez collected 18 digs in the last game of the season and led the OVC defensively with 324 total digs on the season. Sophomore outside hitter Alysha Smith tallied a career-high 14 digs.
Battling back and forth, the teams tied the first set 11-11 with two blocks from Beasley and Price, two kills from Matson and kills from Beasley, Metzger and McClelland. The Redhawks pulled away 14-11, and the Racers were not able to get within two points, leading SEMO to close out the set 25-22.
The Redhawks jumped ahead in set two, taking a 15-8 lead. The Racers attempted to fight back with a 5-2 run but still trailed 17-13. With the Racers behind 23-19, the Redhawks rattled off back-to-back kills to close out the set 25-19.
The Racers scored the first four points of the third set, but the Redhawks battled back immediately, scoring the next five. With the score tied 5-5, the teams traded points until the Redhawks used an 8-1 run to pull ahead 19-13. The Redhawks scored five times in a row to give them set point at 24-16. The Racers were able to score two points before the Redhawks’ Beasley tallied a kill to close out the set 25-18.
“We have a lot of talented freshmen without a lot of experience,” Schwepker said. “There will be changes made next fall with position changes so we can have a successful season.”
Anderton closed out her Racer career with 1,850 total assists. Senior middle blocker Katirah Johnson was out this season because of an injury, but she finished her career with 383 kills and 154 blocks.
“We just want to thank Callie and Katirah for all their services and dedication to the program,” Schwepker said. “Now we just have to teach these younger players what it takes to win.”
The Racers finished their season 5-11 overall while the Redhawks advanced to the OVC semifinal game.