Volleyball Drops C-USA Opener to WKU, 3-0

Friday, September 21

Bowling Green, K.Y.

6:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

4-9

Western Kentucky

10-5

Middle Tennessee

WKU

9/21/2018 7:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Brendan English, Athletic Communications Assistant

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (4-9) falls in three sets to Conference USA rival, WKU (10-5).

Senior Bailey Mason paced the Blue Raider offense, inking 13 kills, hitting on a .321 clip in the three-set match. Likewise, junior Dora Peonia (7) and senior Regan Coughlin (5) added a combined 12 kills for Middle Tennessee.

From their setter position, junior Taylor Hammill (20) and freshman Sarah Sumida (9) contributed 29 combined assists for the Blue Raiders.

On the defensive end, junior libero Brienna Tankesley notched 14 digs from the backrow while Mason (7) and Coughlin (5) contributed a combined 12.

The Blue Raiders took control of the first set early, jumping out to a 2-1 lead over the Lady Toppers with kills from Mason and redshirt-sophomore Huddleston. WKU responded with a pair of kills of its own before Mason inked a service ace to tie the set at 4-all. The set went back and forth to tie another four times (14-14) before WKU pulled away to take the first set over the Blue Raiders, 25-21. Mason controlled the Middle Tennessee offense in the first frame, recording four kills (.500) followed by Peonia (3).

In the second frame, the Blue Raider defense struggled to stop the Lady Topper offense. Regardless of another four kills from Mason and two from Peonia, Middle Tennessee dropped the second set to WKU, 25-14.

Despite the hard fought battle in the third and final set, the Blue Raiders dropped the third frame to the Lady Toppers, 25-19.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders have a quick turnaround, traveling to Ruston, La. to continue its Conference USA slate with a match against LA Tech on Sunday.