Blue Raiders Drop Five-Set Thriller to Thundering Herd

Sunday, March 7

Murfreesboro, TN

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-17,15 CUSA

Marshall

-63,43 CUSA

Marshall

Middle Tenn.

3/7/2021 4:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's volleyball team fell in five sets to Marshall Sunday at Alumni Memorial Gym (23-25, 20-25, 29-27, 25-21, 7-15).

Sophomore Kayla Henley tallied a career-best 19 kills and added eight digs, one ace, and one block. Samira Lawson Body tied a career-high 16 kills with four blocks, while Emma Grever tallied 12 kills. Freshman Amelia Van Der Werff also topped the double-digit mark for the sixth time this season with 11 kills.

Defensively, Taylor Eisert put up a career-best 21 digs, registering a double-double with 51 assists. Marley Banton posted her first double-double of the season with 17 digs and career-high 10 assists.

Early in the first set, both teams traded blows as either team could not push the lead to more than two. Tied at 13, a 4-1 Middle Tennessee run opened a 17-14 lead. The score would be tied at 23, but Marshall wrapped up the set, winning the next two points.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to a quick 5-3 lead in set two. With Middle Tennessee ahead 11-7, Marshall would later tie the frame at 16 all. The Thundering Herd would then reel off a 7-2 run to take a 23-18 lead. A kill would end the set and give Marshall the 2-0 match lead.

With Middle Tennessee ahead 7-3 in set three, the Blue Raiders would get four more points growing their lead to 11-4. Marshall would pull within 19-15 before picking up five straight points to take a 20-19 lead forcing a Middle Tennessee timeout. A Thundering Herd error would tie the match at 25 before back-to-back points would seal the 29-27 set three win for the Blue Raiders.

A hot Blue Raider start prompted an early Marshall timeout in set four with Middle Tennessee ahead 5-2. The Blue Raiders used the early advantage to pick up the 25-21 win, tying the match and forcing a fifth set.

Marshall would quickly jump out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth set, prompting a Middle Tennessee timeout. The Thundering Herd rolled the rest of the way as they picked up the 15-7 decision and the match win.

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