Volleyball falls to No. 9 Minnesota

MILWAUKEE - A day after posting a season-high 14 kills, Alyssa Wistrick added 12 more on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Middle Tennessee volleyball team lost in 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 26-24) fashion to ninth-ranked Minnesota at the Marquette Challenge at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee.

Wistrick's 12 kills were the most by any Blue Raider on the day. The senior was also remarkably efficient, hitting at a .421 rate.

Lindsay Cheatham was second on the team with six kills, and both Ashley Adams and Maria Szivos recorded four apiece.

Kaylee Kehoe was responsible for directing the bulk of the offense, posting 31 assists and tallying her first three career kills.

Defensively, Brynne Henderson led the way with eight digs, and Szivos chipped in seven.

Oyinlola Oladinni led the effort at the net with six total blocks. Both Szivos and Wistrick contributed three.

After Minnesota (6-2) ran away with the first set in 25-12 fashion, the second set was a bit more even, but the Golden Gophers began to pull away late en route to a 25-17 victory.

The third frame would prove to be the most dramatic as the two teams tied on 16 occasions, but the Golden Gophers put together a late run to fight off a Blue Raider set point, winning 26-24.

Middle Tennessee fell to 2-8 on the season and will begin conference play next week against Arkansas State and UALR.

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