Lady Raiders Win Tournament Crown

Saturday, September 7

Memphis, TN

12:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

Memphis

9/7/2002 9:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: MT Media Relations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. â€" KeKe Deckard led all players with 23 kills as Middle Tennessee (6-2) sealed up the tournament title with a 3-1 win come from behind win over Birmingham-Southern, Saturday at Roane Fieldhouse. Middle Tennessee trailed in the first game before rallying back to win 31-29. But BSC answered back with a 30-27 win of their own in game two before the Blue Raiders squeaked out two more close wins, 30-27 and 32-30 to finish the tournament with an unblemished 3-0 record. Erin Hillstorm, who was named to the all-tournament team, added 21 kills and led the team with 23 digs and four service aces in the win, while Katie Thiesen, who was named the tournament MVP, added 13 kills. Middle Tennessee won its first five game match of the season with a 3-2 win over Memphis earlier in the day. After the Lady Raiders won game one, the Tigers came back to post wins in games two and three, but the Blue Raiders capitalized on a struggling Memphis offense to win games four and five. MT hit a game high .594 in the fourth game, which they won 30-17. Brittany Barnett (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands) led all players with 22 kills, but Middle Tennessee spread the ball around, with six Blue Raiders tallying double-digit kills to pick up their fifth win of the season. Nancy Nellans (Indianapolis, Ind./St. Joseph) added 13 kills and led the Tigers again with five service aces. Karisse Baker led Middle Tennessee with 15 kills, while tournament MVP Katie Thiesen added 14. The Lady Raiders are on a five match winning streak and will try to improve on that mark when Middle Tennessee hosts Mississippi State at 6 p.m. Tuesday September 10 in Alumni Gym.