BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team came up short in a battle of Ohio Valley Conference favorites on Friday, when Morehead State pulled off a 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19) win over the Gamecocks in the conference opener for both teams.

The defending champion Gamecocks (5-7, 0-1 OVC) jumped on the Eagles (7-5, 1-0 OVC) early to win the opening set, but the homestanding Eagles rallied to win the next three sets and hand JSU its first loss in an OVC opener in its eight years in the league. MSU, who lost to Jax State in last year's tournament championship match, were picked to win the league this year, one spot ahead of JSU's prediction.

“This was the battle we expected it to be,” JSU head coach Rick Nold said. “I thought we came out with good energy and played really well in spurts, but they just won some big momentum points. I think that was the difference in the match.”

Junior Lauren Harkins led a JSU defense that was able to hold the MSU offense to a hitting percentage under .200 with 22 kills, while freshman Kelly Cole picked up a career-high 10 of the Gamecocks' 58 team digs.

It was the Eagles' defense that had the edge on the night, with Liz Schuler grabbing 35 of MSU's 70 digs in just a four-set match.

Gamecock senior Caitlin Vorbeck, who picked up eight digs and assisted on four blocks on the defensive side of the net for the Gamecocks, led the team with 13 kills. The Raytown, Mo., native runs her career total to 1,110, passing former Gamecock Suzi Terrell for 10th place on the school's career list.

Sophomore Alyx Schulte added 11 kills on a .400 attack percentage, while grabbing nine digs, and junior Stephanie Koontz had 10 kills for JSU. Senior setter Brooke Schumacher dished 39 of the Gamecocks' 44 assists and assisted on five blocks up front.

Kaitlin Craven led the MSU offense with 20 kills on a .333 attack percentage, while Ellie Roberson pitched in 13. Kirstie Brangers had 45 assists for the Eagle offense.

The Gamecocks will wrap up what has been a string of nine-straight matches away from home on Saturday, when they take on Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m. CT in Richmond, Ky. JSU will return to Pete Mathews Coliseum on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup with Tennessee State.