Blue Raiders Win Third Straight

ALBANY, N.Y. - Middle Tennessee volleyball (9-4) won its second tournament of the season with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)) shutout of host Albany (4-6) on Saturday in University Gymnasium at the University of Albany Tournament.

The Blue Raiders blanked all three opponents over the weekend, defeating Temple 3-0 on Friday and also knocking out Syracuse in the early match on Saturday 3-0 (30-28, 30-24, 30-21). Middle Tennessee has now won nine straight games in the last three matches.

Middle Tennessee won the tournament by defeating host Albany in the nightcap. The Blue Raiders hitting percentage was down from the previous two matches over the weekend tournament, but held on against a scrappy Albany team to secure the win. The club hit .238 in the match and allowed Albany to record a .200 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Ashley Asberry had a big match against the Great Danes, as she led both squads with 13 kills and committed just one error. Three Blue Raiders recorded 10 kills - Jessica Robinson, Ashley Adams and Victoria Monasterolo.

In the three-match tournament, Adams had just six errors in nine games. Prior to the match with Albany, the sophomore outside hitter did not commit an error. For the weekend she had 42 kills, averaging 4.67 kills per game and had a .450 attack percentage.

Freshman setter Leslie Clark continues to improve and impress. The Olathe, Kansas native assist numbers continued to climb as the weekend progressed, notching 43 against Syracuse and 44 against Albany. For her efforts, she was voted Tournament MVP.

Asberry and Monasterolo were also voted to the All-Tournament team.

In the early match on Saturday, Middle Tennessee was in total control of Syracuse, hitting a scorching .404 in the match. Syracuse was held to a .138 attack percentage.

The Blue Raiders had two players who were perfect in hitting percentage. Both Adams and Monasterolo didn't commit a hitting error in the match. Adams had 14 kills on 20 attacks and Monasterolo had 10 kills on 26 attacks.

Middle Tennessee begins Sun Belt Conference play Friday, September 22, hosting South Alabama. Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Alumni Memorial Gym.

All-Tournament Team

Leslie Clark, Middle Tennessee - MVP

Ashley Asberry, Middle Tennessee

Victoria Monasterolo, Middle Tennessee

Ashley DeNeal, UAlbany

Ashley Crenshaw, UAlbany

Cheryl Cobbina, Syracuse

Yan Liu, Temple

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