MT Athletics – MT falls in straight sets to C-USA leader, WKU

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team fell in straight sets (3-0) to Conference USA leader, Western Kentucky in the E.A. Diddle Arena on Sunday, Oct. 1.
 
Notable
Redshirt-sophomore Alyssa Mathis posted her best offensive outing of her career to ink nine kills and one hitting error to hit on a .533 clip.
 
Likewise, sophomore Dora Peonia contributed 11 kills, five digs and two service aces for the Blue Raiders. Meanwhile, junior Regan Coughlin and junior Bailey Mason posted for a combined 10 kills.
 
From her setter spot, sophomore Taylor Hammill tallied 29 assists while adding four digs, two kills and an ace over the Lady Toppers.
 
Also contributing kills for the Blue Raiders included redshirt-junior Vonnie Covington posting a single kill.
 
Set by Set
In the first frame, the Lady Toppers controlled the set opening with an 11-3 lead over the Blue Raiders. However, Middle Tennessee responded with 11-7 run (20-14) of its own with kills from Coughlin, Mathis and Peonia but, it was not enough as the Blue Raiders dropped the first set, 25-15. Similarly, the Lady Toppers edged Middle Tennessee in the second set, 25-17.
 
In the third and final frame, The Blue Raiders posted their best outing of the match hitting on a .345 clip. Peonia posted six kills in the third while Mathis and Mason contributed three a piece. Similar to the first two sets, Western Kentucky clinched the match in the third, 25-20.
 
Quotable
“Before the match we specifically talked about being loose but not goofy loose. In our match against Rice, they were dancing on the court before the match in a very loose and goofy way opposed to a loose, focused mentality. I appreciated that our team responded to our message and preformed at much more focused and composed level. I am more proud of the team now with a loss for the way they competed and fought back than I was for a couple of the wins we had were we didn’t necessarily fight to that level. There was definite growth today, and the girls took another step forward in the right direction. We still need to improve on our ball control but, when we find our consistency we will start to go onto four and five set matches and begin to win them. But overall, I could not be more proud of what the team did today”. – Head Coach Chuck Crawford
 
“It obviously isn’t a great feeling to lose but at the same time I feel great about our performance. I think that this game against Western has been one of the best game that we have played as a team and that was MTSU volleyball”. – Redshirt-Sophomore Alyssa Mathis
 
Up Next
The Blue Raiders return home next weekend to continue conference play with matches against LA Tech on Friday, October 6 at 7 p.m. and FAU on Sunday, October 8 at noon.