MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee broke a two-match losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-7) win over Connecticut in its final regular season match.
The Blue Raiders won the first set and the fourth set before clinching the match in the fifth set.
Middle Tennessee had a season high 18 total blocks and 54 kills for a .254 attach percentage. Sophomore Izabela Kozon led the Blue Raiders with 14 kills followed by senior Ashley Asberry with 13.
Junior Janay Yancey and freshman Stacey Oladinni each had eight block assists in the match with Asberry adding seven.
UConn jumped out to an early four-point lead, 8-4, over the Blue Raiders to begin the match. The Blue Raiders rallied after trailing 11-7 and never looked back to take the win.
UConn took control of the second set and while the Blue Raiders rallied it was not enough as the Huskies tied the match at 1 to force a fourth set.
After two sets, Kozon and Asberry led the team with seven kills each as the Blue Raiders posted a .167 attack percentage. UConn had 25 kills compared to 21 for Middle Tennessee but had just three blocks compared to six by the Blue Raiders.
The Huskies also took control of the third set jumping out to an early lead and hanging on for the win taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
Middle Tennessee regrouped for the fourth set and cruised to the win to force the fifth set and stay alive in the match.
The Blue Raiders cruised to the eight-point break, 8-2, in the fifth set after a kill by Asberry. Middle Tennessee never looked back jumping ahead 12-3.
Middle Tennessee will learn on Sunday, Nov. 30 if it has earned an at-large bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The 30-minute selection show will be broadcast on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Information will posted on www.goblueraiders.com as soon as it becomes available.
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