Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
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MT opens 2016 season with win against Warhawks
8/26/2016 9:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Blue Raiders prep for Cincinnati, Tennessee matchups
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In Dan Ahiers' coaching debut, the Blue Raiders began the 2016 season on a high note with a victory against ULM in straight sets (25-16, 25-21, 25-17) to open the DISH Tennessee Classic.
Along with Ahiers, six of the 11 Raiders who saw action also donned the Blue and White for the first time.
"We've got a pretty young team, that comes with adversity and getting better. Not only do we get the win, but all these young kids saw things they have never seen before," Ahiers said. "It's great for a young team to have accomplished so much in that first match."
With the win, the Blue Raiders won their first season-opener since 2013. MT outhit ULM with 44 kills to 26, respectively, and used eight service aces to spark the offensive surge.
The Raiders set the pace quickly by dominating the first set 25-16. After a slim 3-2 lead, MT used an 18-11 run to cruise in the first-set win. Newcomer sophomores Regan Coughlin and Bailey Mason led the way offensively with a combined 10 kills. Both Coughlin and Mason finished the match with a game-high 12 kills each.
MT kept the momentum rolling in the second set, leading 10-3 at the first timeout. The Warhawks clawed their way back into the set, helped by a 16-9 run to force a 19-19 tie. A timely pair of kills by sophomore Vonnie Covington a kill from junior Jacqueline Lux sealed the second-set win, 25-21.
Covington finished the night with eight kills and a .636 hitting percentage. Lux, who made her first collegiate start at setter, led the Raiders with 12 digs.
The third and final set began much like the second, with the Blue Raiders claiming a quick 18-6 lead. And despite a 10-3 ULM run, MT used two kills and forced a pair of errors to end the threat and claim the win.
Four Blue Raiders saw their first collegiate action in the win. Meg Irvin, who started at libero, picked up 11 digs and four assists. Steph Garner picked up a service ace on her first appearance on the court along with a pair of digs. Aubrie Huddleston and Dora Peonia also saw action in set play.
The Blue Raiders seek to carry the momentum to day two of the Classic, where they face Cincinnati at 9 a.m. and Tennessee at 6 p.m. Saturday.
