ROCK HILL, S.C.  – Despite three Mountaineers posting double-digit digs, the West Virginia University volleyball team saw its three-match win streak halted by a 3-1 loss to Murray State to close the Winthrop Invitational on Saturday evening at Winthrop Coliseum. The Racers (10-1) won the match in set scores of 25-18, 25-15, 21-25 and 25-20.

 

Morgan Montgomery registered her fifth double-double of the season with a team-best 15 digs and 22 kills, hitting for a .293 clip. She ended the week averaging 5.06 kills and 2.44 digs per set, hitting .258 with four aces. Her efforts in helping the Mountaineers (5-7) to a 2-1 mark at the Winthrop Invitational earned her all-tournament team honors.

 

Brittany Sample had a double-double with 13 digs and 39 assists, earning all-tournament team accolades as well. Haley Roe rounded out the players in double figures with 10 digs as the Mountaineers out-dug the Racers, 60-57.

 

Mia Swanegan had another solid outing, going for eight kills and a team-high four blocks. Caleah Wells hit for a .278 clip with seven kills as WVU posted a team attacking percentage of .194. Wells and Hannah Shreve each had a trio of blocks, as West Virginia and Murray State finished with 6.0 team blocks apiece.

 

“I think we were good in some areas and showed some areas that need improvement,” said WVU coach Reed Sunahara. “I was impressed with Morgan’s performance all week. We have a few things to work on this week with Texas coming to town, but every practice is an opportunity to get better.”

 

Montgomery posted a team-high seven kills, though the Mountaineers hit just .179 in the first set loss. A pair of WVU attacking errors aided a 4-0 Murray State run that gave the Racers a 12-7 advantage. Montgomery put one through the pins to halt the streak, but the Racers came right back to rattle off four more for a 16-8 advantage. Montgomery added four late kills, including one that extended the set, but Murray State took the 25-18 win.

 

A pair of Montgomery kills helped West Virginia to a 6-3 lead to start the second set. Back-to-back Murray State aces made up a 5-0 run by the Racers, who came from behind to take a 10-9 lead. The Mountaineers scored on a pair of Racer attacking errors, then again on a kill from Swanegan as they trailed 19-15. The Racers scored five in a row late to bring up set point and took the set soon after with a kill, 25-15.

 

West Virginia rebounded to hit .290 in the 13 set, posting 13 kills to Murray State’s 11. Montgomery had five kills in pacing the offense, but it was back-to-back kills by Abby Brown that helped the Mountaineers take a 9-7 lead. A WVU service error tied the set at 13-13, but the Mountaineers used a trio of Montgomery kills to take bad the lead at 20-19. Three straight points, including another kill by Abby Brown, brought the Mountaineers to set point at 24-20 before a Swanegan found the court of the 25-21 win.

 

Registering 13 total kills in the fourth set, the Mountaineers took a 5-3 lead early on with a kill by Montgomery. Swanegan put one down to make it a 14-11 lead, but the Racers scored 10 consecutive points to overtake WVU, 20-15. Back-to-back Montgomery kills extended the match with Murray State at set point before a kill gave the Racers the 25-20 win as they took the match, 3-1.

 

The Mountaineers return to Morgantown to open conference play next week. They host No. 2 Texas on Friday in a 6 p.m. match at the WVU Coliseum.