Box Score DENVER – Middle Tennessee State didn't seem worn out
from its big upset earlier, pinning a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-20)
loss on Virginia Commonwealth University Saturday night at the
University of Denver's Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Blue Raiders looked very much like the team that upset
24th-ranked Long Beach State earlier in the day, hitting
.321 and frustrating VCU (2-13) on both ends of the floor.
Sophomore Kristin Boyd (Wilmington, N.C.) led the
Black and Gold attack with seven kills. VCU also received five
kills and two blocks from senior Kelsie Clegg (Boise,
Idaho), as well as four kills apiece from junior
Courtney Hott (Fredericksburg, Va.) and senior
Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa.).
Izabela Kozon sparked MTSU with 19 kills and a .429 hitting
percentage. Ashley Adams added 12 kills while Maria Szivoa kicked
in 10 and hit .438.
Middle Tennessee led wire-to-wire and looked crisp in a 25-17 win
in the first set. However, VCU wouldn't go away quietly. The
Rams jumped out to an 11-10 lead in the second set and looked to
make the match interesting. But the Blue Raiders righted the ship
behind three straight kills by Adams, Szivos and Kozon. They would
not trail again, although VCU pulled to within 24-22 late in the
frame.
Middle Tennessee closed out the match by hitting .433 to secure a
25-20 win in the final set.
The Black and Gold returns to action on Friday, Sept. 24 when it
kicks off Colonial Athletic Association play with Northeastern in a
match at Hanover High School in Richmond, Va.
