MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Taking on one of the top teams in Conference-USA, Alabama A&M (1-14, 0-0 SWAC) could not match the offensive production of Middle Tennessee (11-3, 0-0 C-USA) as they fell 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-15) in an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Wednesday, September 21.
The Blue Raiders would score the first three points on their way to a 13-5 lead in the opening frame before the Bulldogs bounced back to within 16-10 with five of the next eight points. That would be as close as they would get, however, as MTSU closed the set with a 9-5 stretch for a 25-15 victory and 1-0 match lead.
It would be the Bulldogs' turn to open with a 3-0 run with the coming of Game 2 as they held an early 6-5 lead but things would take a drastic turn from there. Middle Tennessee would explode for a crushing 20-6 run with separate bursts of five and six points on their way to a 25-12 win and two set advantage.
A&M produced another strong start, this time taking an 8-5 lead over the first 13 points of the third set. Over the next 20, however, the Blue Raiders would put the match away as they scored 17 of those points to flip the script and pull ahead 22-11. The Bulldogs would take four of the next five to cut it to eight before MTSU notched back-to-back points to close out the set 25-15 and the match at 3-0.
Freshman outside hitter
Caitlin Shaw (Desoto, Texas) led Alabama A&M with eight kills and sophomore setter
Keyara Brooks (Arlington, Texas) dished out nine assists with eight digs. Freshman libero
Miya Benson (Desoto, Texas) rounded out the top performers with six digs.
Adri Rhoda led the Blue Raiders with nine kills and five service aces while Julia Carter finished with eight kills. Caroline MaCander fueled the offense with 19 assists and added seven digs and Taylor Eisert had nine assists and six digs. Marley Banton chipped in with eight digs and five assists to cap things for MTSU.
While not quite completely done with non-conference action, Alabama A&M will open Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play in full force with back-to-back matches on the road, beginning with Jackson State at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 25. They will then follow that with a 6 p.m. match at Mississippi Valley State on Monday, September 26.
