Middle Tennessee Opens Season at Charlotte Invitational

Friday, August 31

Charlotte, NC

11:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

Charlotte Invitational

Photo by: MT

8/31/2001 7:44:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: MT Media Relations

Charlotte, NC - Freshman outside hitter Shakeithia Deckard had 11 kills and five digs in Middle Tennessee's 30-27, 30-18, 34-32 win over Virginia Commonwealth at the Charlotte Invitational on Friday. Lady Raider junior Erin Hillstrom tied her career high in aces with three, and also had 11 digs and three block assists. Junior co-captain Katie Thiesen was the other Lady Raider in double figure kills with 10 and had a hitting percentage of .348. In the early game, Middle Tennessee lost to Kansas 15-30, 29-31, 25-30. The Lady Raiders came out of the gate slow in game one, but picked up their intensity in the games that followed. The team had a chance to go into the locker room tied at one game apiece before the break, but a rally by Kansas put the Jayhawks up 2-0 at halftime. Deckard led the team in kills and digs with nine and 11 respectively, and also recorded two blocks. The team had eight service aces in the match with Hillstrom and Thiesen leading the team with two each. The Lady Raiders begin the season 1-1 and will play host Charlotte at 1 p.m. Friday.