Volleyball 1-1 at Turkey Classic to Close Out Season

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Middle Tennessee volleyball closed out the 2001 season by splitting two matches at the Turkey Classic on the campus of the University of Alabama Saturday.

The Lady Raiders opened the tournament with an early morning 3-2 defeat (26-30, 30-20, 19-30, 30-25, 15-12) of Samford (12-21), and then closed the tournament with a 0-3 (22-30, 24-30, 25-30) loss to Wake Forest (20-11). In the game against Samford, junior outside hitter Erin Hillstrom, from Dallas Texas, broke her career high in kills with 21 with her previous being 20. She also had 10 digs and three service aces.

Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Shakeithia Deckard also had 21 kills and registered 22 digs against Samford. With her last two games of the year, Deckard amassed 494 kills in a season, which propels the Nacogdoches, TX native to number two in the Lady Raider record books for kills in a season. Deckard replaces Mary Rickman who had 483 in 1989.

Freshman Dara McClean and sophomore Karisse Baker also recorded double-doubles against Samford. McClean had her best out put of the season with 10 kills and 12 digs, while Baker had 11 kills and 12 digs.

In the match against Wake Forest, Hillstrom was the only Lady Raider with double figure kills as she recorded her second double-double of the day with 15 kills and 12 digs. She ends the season leading the team in digs with 342.

Middle Tennessee ends the season with an overall record of 10-23 and a 4-10 record in the Sun Belt Conference.

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