Blue Raiders Win Eighth Straight

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Freshman Izabela Kozon and sophomore Ashley Mead both collected eight kills while juniors Ashley Asberry and Ashley Adams both added seven kills, leading 25th-ranked Middle Tennessee to a 3-0 victory (30-14, 30-23, 30-13) over Northeastern Friday afternoon at the Blue Raider Bash. With the victory, the Blue Raiders equal the best start in school history, also set in 1995.

The Blue Raiders hit .425 for the match, registering 41 kills and just seven errors. The squad also collected 13.5 blocks, including 7.5 in the first game, led by senior Quanshell Scott with five block assists.

The Blue Raiders dominated the first game, winning 30-14. Scott finished off the game with her third ace, Leslie Clark had 10 assists and Asberry and Kozon both posted three kills. The squad hit .455 for the game, recording 12 kills against just two hitting errors.

Middle Tennessee played a little more unevenly in the second game but still prevailed, 30-23, with Adams kill ending the game. Asberry, Adams and Mead all collected three kills in the game, as the Blue Raiders hit .367.

In the third game head coach Matt Peck added Sasha McGlothin and Savannah Pegg to the lineup and the Blue Raiders didn't miss a beat, taking the final game, 30-13.

"I think we came out and played really well and served tough," Peck said. "We had 7.5 blocks in the first game and when you challenge teams like that, it puts them down and makes it very hard for them to come back.

"[Northeastern] made a little run on us in the second game, but I think we picked it up again in the third game. The thing that was impressive to me was that we put subs in and didn't lose a beat."

Peck said he continues to stress consistency with his club in every match, something they will need the rest of the weekend and for the rest of the season.

"I think Game Two we were a little complacent. I keep warning our team that we can't play up-and-down like a roller coaster. We have to set the tempo of the match and continue to play that way throughout the match," Peck said.

Middle Tennessee plays again Friday at 7:30 p.m. versus Georgia State and concludes action in the Blue Raider Bash Saturday at 1 p.m. against UT-Arlington. The Blue Raiders also host Missouri State Sunday at 4 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Gym.

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