Blue Raiders Fall in Four Sets at Charlotte

Sunday, February 28

Charlotte, NC

12:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-15, 13 (CUSA)

Charlotte

-64, 43 (CUSA)

Middle Tennessee

Charlotte

2/28/2021 3:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team dropped a four-set decision at Charlotte Sunday afternoon at Halton Arena.

The Blue Raiders (1-5) came out of the gate, clicking offensively as they took the first set 25-20. Charlotte (6-4) regrouped after the opening set and rolled off three straight-set wins to take the match victory.

Junior Samira Lawson Body registered her fourth-consecutive double-digit kill match, notching 11. Kayla Henley and Urte Neimantaite notched nine kills apiece. Henley would also collect double-digit digs for the second time this season with 11. Freshman Amelia Van Der Werff picked up eight kills and collected multiple aces for the second straight match.

Sophomore libero Marley Banton collected 15 digs and recorded five assists along with three aces. Freshman setter Taylor Eisert picked up a career-best 15 digs while collecting 38 assists. Eisert has now earned 30 plus assists in five straight matches.

The opening stanza was tight to start as the lead changed numerous times. Middle Tennessee then began opening a lead using a 7-2 run to take an 11-5 lead. Charlotte would later cut it to 17-16, but the Blue Raiders were able to open a five-point lead at 22-17 quickly after that. Middle Tennessee halted the 49ers from coming any closer and took the first set 25-20.

Charlotte jumped out to an early 7-3 lead to force a quick Blue Raider timeout in set two. Middle Tennessee would cut the deficit to 11-8, but the 49ers responded with a 6-2 run to widen its lead to 17-10. Charlotte took the second set, 25-18, to tie the match at one.

In the third set, the Blue Raiders were able to keep Charlotte at arm's length keeping the deficit within three up till 9-6. The 49ers would then reel off a 6-3 run to push the lead up to 14-9. The Blue Raiders would later respond and tie the set at 16. Middle Tennessee didn't go quietly, capturing five straight points to make it 24-23. A 49er block and a Blue Raider error secured the set for the 49ers, 25-23.

The fourth set would remain competitive until Charlotte earned back-to-back kills to force a Middle Tennessee timeout looking at a 14-9 deficit. The Blue Raiders continued to battle, but multiple kills by the 49ers would grow their lead. Middle Tennessee would make a late push reeling off three straight points forcing Charlotte to call a timeout with the 24-20 score. Following the Charlotte break, the 49ers capitalized on the attack error to win the match, 25-20.

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