Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
-910,76 CUSA
University of North Texas
-1512,76 CUSA
Blue Raiders Sweep North Texas, Head Onto Semifinals
11/19/2021 4:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NORFOLK, Va. – The Blue Raiders swept North Texas Friday afternoon and are moving onto the Semi-Finals for the first time since 2011. They will play number one seeded Rice tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT.
The Blue Raiders showed up collectively and earned their biggest win of the season when it mattered most. The freshly named Libero of the Year, Marley Banton, dug up 25 digs for an incredible 8.33 digs per set. Banton moved up to sixth in career digs during the 25-point rally scoring era with a total of 820. Taylor Eisert showed up huge with her 11th double double that included 36 assists. The shortened season wasn't enough to keep her from getting on the top-10 assists in a season list for the 25-point scoring rally era. Eisert now has 742 total assists on the season and is five assists away from ninth place.
.@MT_Volleyball are moving on to the semifinals!
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 19, 2021
Their next match will be tomorrow at 12pm ET! pic.twitter.com/uQsuqtTqbH
Middle Tennessee vs. North Texas Set-by-Set
The Blue Raiders got off to a great start, taking the first set 25-20. Banton racked up 10 digs to go along with a service ace in set one. Samira Lawson Body led the offense with four kills. The Blue Raiders held North Texas's Rhett Robinson to one kill on 15 attempts for a -.200-attack percentage.
Set two was the Blue Raiders best of the day taking it 25-19. The Blue Raiders serving improved and saw them hit four service aces home. Melisa Nur Temiz had a good set with two kills on three attempts to go along with her two service aces. Dasia Smith showed up big with an efficient .500 attack percentage.
The Blue Raiders got off to a slow start in the fifth set as North Texas got off to a 5-0 run. But in the end, the Blue Raider attack picked up majorly and ended with a .371 attack percentage to close the match out. Lawson Body, Smith, and Henley combined for 15 kills on 28 attempts in the final set. Banton had another 10-dig set to close out her amazing day as the Blue Raiders took set five 25-22.
Stat Leaders
Kills: Samira Lawson Body (14)
Assists: Taylor Eisert (36)
Aces: Banton, Nur Temiz, Wright (2)
Digs: Marley Banton (25)
Blocks: Dasia Smith (2.0)
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Volleyball), Instagram (@mt_volleyball), and Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Volleyball).
