MT Rumbles Past UAB on Senior Day

Sunday, November 9

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

-919, (59 CUSA)

UAB

-623, (311 CUSA)

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UAB	12	19	23	0
Middle Tennessee St.	25	25	25	3

11/9/2014 3:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MURFREESOBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (9-19, 5-9 C-USA) handed the UAB Blazers (6-23, 3-11 C-USA) a sweep on senior day inside Alumni Memorial Gym.

Junior Chelsea Ross led the way with 15 kills and four other Blue Raiders chipped in with five kills to help the team outhit UAB .286/.194. Freshman Haley Morton and senior Ailime de Freitas both notched 18 assists to pace MT, while freshman Jacqueline Lux posted a team-best 13 digs.

Seniors Eseta Maka, Monét Marshall and sophomore Jazmyne Johnson all recorded three blocks to lead the Blue Raiders defensively.

"Chelsea Ross had an outstanding match in the front and back row. I thought our two middles, Monét Marshall and LaDaisha Gillard, both played outstanding as well,"said head coach Matt Peck. "We had a very good team effort today."

With the win and help from Charlotte defeating UTEP on Sunday, the Blue Raiders are now in sole position for the eighth and final Conference USA Tournament spot.

"Our team knew a chance to get to the conference tournament was on the line today, and they responded very well", said Peck.

Like Friday night against Louisiana Tech, the offense came out clicking on all cylinders with a .357 clip and storming out to a 17-9 advantage. MT stayed out in front by double digits while eventually winning the set, 25-12, after de Freitas found sophomore Miri Shade for the kill.

Game two was tighter despite MT starting the frame with a 12-8 lead. UAB climbed back to tie the set, 17-17, before the Blue Raiders outscored the Blazers 8-2 the rest of the way thanks to kills from freshman LaDaisha Gillard, Shade and Maka. Freshman Morgan St. Germain and Marshall held serve for six of the eight points, while MT took advantage of three consecutive UAB errors to win game two, 25-19.

The Blue Raiders stormed out to a 14-6 lead and eventually stretched the lead to as much as ten, 19-9. UAB got back in the contest scoring 14 of the next 19 points to cut the deficit to just one, 24-23. But de Freitas found Marshall for a monstrous kill to end the match for the sweep.

"I thought we played an outstanding match today against a team that beat us badly at their place a couple weeks ago," stated Peck. "As we continue to get our injured players healthy and back on the court, we continue to get better."

After the match, seniors Eseta Maka, Ailime de Freitas and Monét Marshall were honored for their commitment and dedication to the Blue Raider volleyball program.

MT will continue the excellent play with a road match against C-USA foe Charlotte on Wednesday at 7 p.m. That match could very well determine who grabs the final C-USA Tournament spot.