McLean Aces ASU for Win

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Senior Dara McLean secured Middle Tennessee's (6-8, 2-1 SBC) second Sun Belt win of the season with an ace to lead the Blue Raiders to a 3-2 (26-30, 30-22, 21-30, 30-18, 16-18) victory over Arkansas State (12-5, 1-1 SBC) Friday in Alumni Memorial Gym.

"Jeff [Motluck] told Dara just to go back in her serve and go for it," said head coach Matt Peck. "I am so happy with and for Dara's performance of late."

Middle Tennessee had to come back in game five after trailing 4-0. Middle Tennessee clawed back to an 8-9 tie before Arkansas State pulled ahead again. With the score 14-13 and ASU threatening to close out the match, sophomore Andressa Lyra recorded a monster kill to extend the match. The Blue Raiders took an advantage in the match, 17-16, off a kill by McLean and McLean capped the match with her ace.

"Everyone stepped it up when they needed to," Peck said. "We have players believing in themselves."

The Blue Raider's suffered through errors in game one and fell to the Indians 30-26 thanks to nine attack errors. Middle Tennessee tied it, going into the locker room, thanks to a scorching .355 attack percentage. Arkansas State took game three and the Blue Raiders snagged game four to push a game five.

Middle Tennessee not only picked up the win, the Blue Raiders welcomed back senior outside hitter KeKe Deckard, who had missed three matches due to an injury. Deckard came back in style as she recorded 21 kills and also had two blocked shots.

McLean recorded 20 or more kills for the fifth consecutive match with 25 against Arkansas State. She notched her fourth double-double of the season with 11 digs. Sophomore Andressa Lyra added 19 kills.

The Blue Raider win snaps Arkansas State's seven-match winning streak.

The Blue Raiders are back in action on Saturday when they host Sun Belt Conference foe Arkansas-Little Rock.

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