McLean's Career-High Seven Aces Paces Blue Raiders to Win

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee volleyball (13-11, 7-3 SBC) clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament Championships with a 3-0 (30-23, 30-16, 32-30) win over Florida International (3-18, 2-8 SBC) Friday in Alumni Memorial Gym.

With four Sun Belt Conference matches remaining, even if the Blue Raiders dropped the remaining contests, the team would sit at 7-7 and still earn a berth in the tournament. The 3-0 sweep of Florida International is the second time this season Middle Tennessee has swept a conference tournament, the last being a 3-0 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock on October 2.

Prior to the match seniors Dara McLean and KeKe Deckard were honored for their four years as a Blue Raider. The duo took the honors to heart, helping to lead Middle Tennessee to the win.

McLean recorded a career-high seven aces in the match, including two consecutive in the third game. In game three, with the Blue Raiders trailing 16-17, McLean recorded four aces in six points scored by Middle Tennessee to give the team a 21-18 lead. McLean also had a match-high 13 kills with a .524 attack percentage.

Fellow senior Deckard added 12 kills in the match. Setter Megan Sumrell recorded 41 assists and Andressa Lyra led the match with seven digs.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on November 5 when the Blue Raiders travel to Arkansas-Little Rock. Match time is set for 7 p.m.

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