Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, October 1
Huntington, WV
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-45,21 CUSA
2
at
3
Marshall
-511,12 CUSA
1st set1
2nd set2
3rd set3
4th set4
5th set5
FinalF
Middle Tenn.
25
25
18
17
4
2
Marshall
19
15
25
25
15
3
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Defeat Marshall 3-1 Splitting the Weekend Series
10/2/2021 5:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – The Blue Raiders bounced back with a huge 3-1 win on Saturday, splitting the weekend series with Marshall 1-1.
The Blue Raiders dropped their first match on Friday after a five-set battle with the Thundering Herd. The team came back on Saturday afternoon and battled to a win in four sets. The team played with a lot of energy at times racking up huge runs, including an 8-0 and a 6-0 run in the last set that blew the Herd out of the water.
Samira Lawson Body led the way for the Blue Raiders offensively this weekend, racking up 36 total kills, including a new career-high 20 kills on a .439 hitting percentage Saturday. Melisa Tore, Melisa Nur Temiz, and Michaela Wright all had three or more serving aces this weekend. Defensively, Marley Banton got after it this weekend, leading the team with 36 digs on a 4.00 dig/set clip. Other new match career-highs from Saturday included Temiz's 15 digs and Wright's three service aces.
Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall Match One Set-by-Set (10/01/21)
The Blue Raiders started the scoring in set one with a Kayla Henley kill, but after some back-and-forth play the team found themselves down 7-9. Middle Tennessee found their stride going on a 4-0 run and then a few plays later going on a 5-0 run. Both teams had high hitting percentages along with a low number of errors. The duo of Lawson Body and her six kills on a .625 attack percentage along with Temiz's two service aces in the set, saw the Blue Raiders win it 25-19.
Middle Tennessee looked as sharp as ever, starting the second set on a 7-0 run that saw everyone on offense getting touches. Although the Blue Raiders offense looked great throughout the set, the Herd had 13 errors to the Blue Raiders five. The Blue Raiders took the set 25-15 and looked to have all the momentum in their world on their side.
The Thundering Herd took the third set 25-18 and looked primed for another good set after taking advantage of the Blue Raiders' errors.
The Blue Raiders watched the fourth set slip out of their hands early on as Marshall led 13-3. Middle Tennessee dropped the set 17-25 but showed a lot of fight at the end.
Marshall's 100% sideout percentage compared to Middle Tennessee's 26% summed up the final set on Friday. The team allowed the Herd to have three service aces within four plays, and the Blue Raiders eight total errors to Marshall's one error saw the team drop the last set 4-15.
Stat Leaders From Match One:
Aces: Melisa Nur Temiz (3)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (16)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (44)
Digs: Marley Banton (18)
Blocks: Henley, Smith, and Wright (2.0)
Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall Match Two Set-by-Set (10/02/21)
All four sets on Saturday were back-and-forth battles that were exciting for both sides. Offensively, the Blue Raiders were able to split the responsibilities in set one with four girls having three or more kills. Middle Tennessee's 62% sideout percentage in set one was the highest on the day for both sides. The Blue Raiders ended set one on a 7-1 run, taking it 25-23.
Lawson Body picked things up in set two with six kills on a .600 hitting percentage. The Blue Raiders got off to a a great 4-1 start, but Marshall went on a run that kept them in the lead till the end of the set at 22-22. Marshall's Ciara DeBell had nine kills including three in the final sets that helped them take it 25-23.
Set three went to the Blue Raiders 25-22. Temiz's effort and energy on defense during the clutch stood out and helped the team roll to the end. Middle Tennessee was able to keep the turnover number low in the set, always keeping them in the fight even when they were down by six points early on.
The Blue Raiders launched to an early lead in the fourth and final set with runs of 8-0 and 6-0. Defensively they collected a weekend high five blocks in the set, including Kayla Henley's block at the end that energized the team through to the finish. Samira had five kills in the last set, including her new career-high 20th kill at the 21-15 mark. Henley finished the set off with two kills in the final plays.
Stat Leaders From Match Two:
Aces: Michaela Wright (3)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (20)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (43)
Digs: Marley Banton (18)
Blocks: Michaela Wright (4)
The Blue Raiders head home next weekend for two 1 p.m. CT matches against FIU on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
The Blue Raiders dropped their first match on Friday after a five-set battle with the Thundering Herd. The team came back on Saturday afternoon and battled to a win in four sets. The team played with a lot of energy at times racking up huge runs, including an 8-0 and a 6-0 run in the last set that blew the Herd out of the water.
Samira Lawson Body led the way for the Blue Raiders offensively this weekend, racking up 36 total kills, including a new career-high 20 kills on a .439 hitting percentage Saturday. Melisa Tore, Melisa Nur Temiz, and Michaela Wright all had three or more serving aces this weekend. Defensively, Marley Banton got after it this weekend, leading the team with 36 digs on a 4.00 dig/set clip. Other new match career-highs from Saturday included Temiz's 15 digs and Wright's three service aces.
Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall Match One Set-by-Set (10/01/21)
The Blue Raiders started the scoring in set one with a Kayla Henley kill, but after some back-and-forth play the team found themselves down 7-9. Middle Tennessee found their stride going on a 4-0 run and then a few plays later going on a 5-0 run. Both teams had high hitting percentages along with a low number of errors. The duo of Lawson Body and her six kills on a .625 attack percentage along with Temiz's two service aces in the set, saw the Blue Raiders win it 25-19.
Middle Tennessee looked as sharp as ever, starting the second set on a 7-0 run that saw everyone on offense getting touches. Although the Blue Raiders offense looked great throughout the set, the Herd had 13 errors to the Blue Raiders five. The Blue Raiders took the set 25-15 and looked to have all the momentum in their world on their side.
The Thundering Herd took the third set 25-18 and looked primed for another good set after taking advantage of the Blue Raiders' errors.
The Blue Raiders watched the fourth set slip out of their hands early on as Marshall led 13-3. Middle Tennessee dropped the set 17-25 but showed a lot of fight at the end.
Marshall's 100% sideout percentage compared to Middle Tennessee's 26% summed up the final set on Friday. The team allowed the Herd to have three service aces within four plays, and the Blue Raiders eight total errors to Marshall's one error saw the team drop the last set 4-15.
Stat Leaders From Match One:
Aces: Melisa Nur Temiz (3)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (16)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (44)
Digs: Marley Banton (18)
Blocks: Henley, Smith, and Wright (2.0)
Middle Tennessee vs. Marshall Match Two Set-by-Set (10/02/21)
All four sets on Saturday were back-and-forth battles that were exciting for both sides. Offensively, the Blue Raiders were able to split the responsibilities in set one with four girls having three or more kills. Middle Tennessee's 62% sideout percentage in set one was the highest on the day for both sides. The Blue Raiders ended set one on a 7-1 run, taking it 25-23.
Lawson Body picked things up in set two with six kills on a .600 hitting percentage. The Blue Raiders got off to a a great 4-1 start, but Marshall went on a run that kept them in the lead till the end of the set at 22-22. Marshall's Ciara DeBell had nine kills including three in the final sets that helped them take it 25-23.
Set three went to the Blue Raiders 25-22. Temiz's effort and energy on defense during the clutch stood out and helped the team roll to the end. Middle Tennessee was able to keep the turnover number low in the set, always keeping them in the fight even when they were down by six points early on.
The Blue Raiders launched to an early lead in the fourth and final set with runs of 8-0 and 6-0. Defensively they collected a weekend high five blocks in the set, including Kayla Henley's block at the end that energized the team through to the finish. Samira had five kills in the last set, including her new career-high 20th kill at the 21-15 mark. Henley finished the set off with two kills in the final plays.
Stat Leaders From Match Two:
Aces: Michaela Wright (3)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (20)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (43)
Digs: Marley Banton (18)
Blocks: Michaela Wright (4)
The Blue Raiders head home next weekend for two 1 p.m. CT matches against FIU on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Team Stats
MTSU
Marsh
Kills
57
59
Errors
21
11
Attempts
145
132
Hitting %
.248
.364
Points
66
75
Assists
53
58
Aces
5
8
Blocks
4
8
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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