Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, October 31
Murfreesboro, TN
1:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-88,64 CUSA
2
vs
3
FAU
-1114,39 CUSA
1
2
3
4
5
F
Fla. Atlantic
25
26
16
13
15
3
Middle Tenn.
23
24
25
25
11
2
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Drop Final Home Game to the Owls 2-3
10/31/2021 4:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Blue Raiders split the series with Florida Atlantic after dropping the second of the two five-set matches this weekend. Middle Tennessee ends the season at home 5-1.
Although the series ended on a bad note, the Blue Raiders clinched a spot in the C-USA Tournament for the third time in a row and ended the home season with their best win percentage since 2010. Samira Lawson Body made it onto the career kills list today, sitting at number 10 with 520 kills. Marley Banton had another good day receiving with 29 digs, moving her up to seventh all-time in career digs with a total of 763. Banton also moves up in career service aces with 80 after tying her career-high of four aces for the eighth time. Banton is now tied for third all-time with Dora Peonia.
This weekend Banton dominated with a total of 68 digs in 10 sets for an average of 6.8 digs per set. Senior Lawson Body led the Blue Raiders with 32 kills in her final matches at home this weekend. Taylor Eisert ended the weekend with 99 assists for a 9.90 assist per set average. Dasia Smith had an efficient 25 kills on a .373 hitting percentage through two matches.
The Blue Raiders had a total of 14 service aces today with four players pitching in. Taylor Eisert and Melisa Tore set new career-highs in service aces with four and five respectively today. Eisert, Kayla Henley, and Lawson Body all had double-doubles in the five-set loss.
Middle Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic Set-by-Set
The highlight of set one was Melisa Tore's four service aces. Michaela Wright led the offense alongside Tore, hitting home four kills on eight attempts for an efficient .500. The Owls took a very competitive set one 25-23.
Dasia Smith gave the team some electricity in set two with four kills on nine attempts to go along with two blocks. Set two was close, but errors came to bite the Blue Raiders in the end as FAU took the set 26-24.
The Blue Raider defense stepped up huge in set three with four girls getting a block assist. Henley, Lawson Body, and Nur Temiz had nine kills on 15 attempts in the set. Banton and Eisert each had two service aces. Middle Tennessee took the third set 25-16.
Offensively, Lawson Body and Smith had 10 kills on 15 attempts in set four. Lawson Body had four kills to start the set, seeing the Blue Raiders get out to a quick 6-2 start. The Blue Raiders cruised to a 25-13 ending in set four.
The Blue Raiders serving cooled down in the final set with only one ace from Tore. Lawson Body had three kills on five attempts and helped keep the match close at 6-6. Nine errors from the Blue Raiders to go along with the Owls sideout percentage of 66% saw them drop the final set 15-11.
Stat Leaders
Aces: Melisa Tore (5)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (19)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (48)
Digs: Marley Banton (29)
Blocks: Henley, Smith, Temiz, and Wright (3)
Up Next
The Blue Raiders head on the road for their final weekend series against Old Dominion Friday, November 5 at 5 p.m. CT. and Saturday, November 6 at 1 p.m. CT.
Follow Us
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Although the series ended on a bad note, the Blue Raiders clinched a spot in the C-USA Tournament for the third time in a row and ended the home season with their best win percentage since 2010. Samira Lawson Body made it onto the career kills list today, sitting at number 10 with 520 kills. Marley Banton had another good day receiving with 29 digs, moving her up to seventh all-time in career digs with a total of 763. Banton also moves up in career service aces with 80 after tying her career-high of four aces for the eighth time. Banton is now tied for third all-time with Dora Peonia.
This weekend Banton dominated with a total of 68 digs in 10 sets for an average of 6.8 digs per set. Senior Lawson Body led the Blue Raiders with 32 kills in her final matches at home this weekend. Taylor Eisert ended the weekend with 99 assists for a 9.90 assist per set average. Dasia Smith had an efficient 25 kills on a .373 hitting percentage through two matches.
The Blue Raiders had a total of 14 service aces today with four players pitching in. Taylor Eisert and Melisa Tore set new career-highs in service aces with four and five respectively today. Eisert, Kayla Henley, and Lawson Body all had double-doubles in the five-set loss.
Middle Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic Set-by-Set
The highlight of set one was Melisa Tore's four service aces. Michaela Wright led the offense alongside Tore, hitting home four kills on eight attempts for an efficient .500. The Owls took a very competitive set one 25-23.
Dasia Smith gave the team some electricity in set two with four kills on nine attempts to go along with two blocks. Set two was close, but errors came to bite the Blue Raiders in the end as FAU took the set 26-24.
The Blue Raider defense stepped up huge in set three with four girls getting a block assist. Henley, Lawson Body, and Nur Temiz had nine kills on 15 attempts in the set. Banton and Eisert each had two service aces. Middle Tennessee took the third set 25-16.
Offensively, Lawson Body and Smith had 10 kills on 15 attempts in set four. Lawson Body had four kills to start the set, seeing the Blue Raiders get out to a quick 6-2 start. The Blue Raiders cruised to a 25-13 ending in set four.
The Blue Raiders serving cooled down in the final set with only one ace from Tore. Lawson Body had three kills on five attempts and helped keep the match close at 6-6. Nine errors from the Blue Raiders to go along with the Owls sideout percentage of 66% saw them drop the final set 15-11.
Stat Leaders
Aces: Melisa Tore (5)
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (19)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (48)
Digs: Marley Banton (29)
Blocks: Henley, Smith, Temiz, and Wright (3)
Up Next
The Blue Raiders head on the road for their final weekend series against Old Dominion Friday, November 5 at 5 p.m. CT. and Saturday, November 6 at 1 p.m. CT.
Follow Us
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
Team Stats
FAU
MTSU
Kills
47
61
Errors
27
26
Attempts
160
160
Hitting %
.125
.219
Points
61
82
Assists
42
57
Aces
4
14
Blocks
10
7
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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