Volleyball falls to Miami in Blue Raider Bash Finale

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee volleyball team played in yet another nail-biter of a match to conclude the sixth annual Blue Raider Bash, falling to Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25).

"It was a very similar match to yesterday against Auburn," said head coach Matt Peck. "We were in a position to win the match, but we had a couple of unforced errors that made the difference. It's something we have to work through as a team. Overall, it was a good tournament. We're working with younger players, and we just have to get past it."

Four Blue Raiders notched 10 or more kills, led by Alyssa Wistrick's 15. Izabela Kozon accounted for 13 kills, and both Lindsay Cheatham and Stacy Oladinni recorded 10. Maria Szivos tallied nine kills at a .368 clip, but was a real force in the service game with a career-high six aces. Morgan Peterson and Angela Peyton each took roles in directing the offense, combining for 52 assists.

Brynne Henderson set a new career high for digs with 21, besting a mark she set in Saturday's match against Southern Miss. Kozon finished second on the team with 11. Szivos and Kendall Howard chipped in eight digs apiece.

Middle Tennessee took home the first set in impressive fashion, never trailing en route to 25-20 win. After taking an early lead, MT pushed the lead to an insurmountable 21-13 in a run keyed by Szivos. The Blue Raiders would go on to win, 25-20.

Miami came from behind in the second set to win 25-21, sending both teams into the break tied at 1-1.

Middle Tennessee put up a fight in the third set. Wistrick and Oladinni each notched five kills in the frame, but the Blue Raiders eventually fell, 25-23.

The fourth set proved to be the most dramatic, but Miami held on to a late lead, winning 25-23. After MT took a 19-17 lead, the Hurricanes went on a six point run led by Lici McGee, who recorded two kills and two block assists over the stretch to take a 22-19 edge, eventually winning 25-23.

The Blue Raiders will now head to Lawrence, Kan., for a match against Kansas on Tuesday before coming back home for the Middle Tennessee Invitational next weekend.

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