19th-ranked Muskingum spikes Hiram en route to its best start since 1999

The 19th-ranked Muskingum volleyball team spiked Hiram on Friday, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12). The Muskies are 19-2 overall and off to their the best start since 1999. 

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (19-2), Hiram (11-9)
• Location: Hiram, Ohio - Price Gymnasium

Notables

• Muskingum has surrendered a total of 15 sets this year.
• The Muskies are off to their best start since the 1999 campaign when they advanced to both the OAC and NCAA Tournaments.
• Muskingum is currently ranked 19th. This marks Muskingum's highest national ranking since 2000. 
• Junior Jessica Cottle secured her 1,000 career dig.
• Junior Brooke Fatheree has 995 career kills, just five kills shy of 1,000.

How It Happened

• The Muskies secured set one (25-23), dropped set two (23-25), fell in set three (22-25), dominated in set four (25-16), and notched set five (15-12). 
• As a team, Muskingum registered 70 kills, 64 assists, and 100 digs. 
• Junior Maddie McGee guided the Muskies with a career-best 20 kills. 
• Junior Brynn Guist registered 18 kills, while junior Brooke Fatheree dished out nine. 
• Fatheree also amassed 16 digs. 
• Junior Erin Dickson directed the Muskies with a game-high 55 assists. 
• Cottle anchored the Muskie backline with a team-best 27 digs. 
• Freshman Emma Conrad logged 20 digs, while Dickson notched 11. 

Inside The Sets

• In set one, Hiram registered five straight points to jump out to an early 9-4 lead. Muskingum retaliated with a 7-0 run to slide past the Terriers with a score of 11-9. The contest remained tight until the Muskies notched back-to-back points to give them a six-point (16-10) edge on Hiram. The Terriers fought to close the gap but the Muskies could not be halted. Muskingum secured the last two points to take the set. 
• In set two, Hiram recorded eight unanswered points to secure a dominating 9-1 lead. Muskingum answered with an 8-4 run to trim the lead to 18-17. The Muskies and Terriers traded points with neither team gaining more than a two point lead. A kill by Lindsey Walker locked in the 25-23 victory for the Terriers.
• In set three, the Muskies and Terriers battle neck and neck with neither team securing more than a three point lead early on. Hiram tallied a 6-1 run to put them ahead 10-5. After a Muskingum timeout the momentum of set began to change. The Muskies notched an 8-1 run to tie up play to 17-17. The contest remained tight until the Terriers recorded a 5-2 run to notch the set with a score of 25-22.
• The battle continued into set four until the Muskies locked in seven unanswered points to jump out to a 16-10 lead. Hiram chipped away at the differential but the Muskies continued to control play. A kill by junior Kaitlin Noble secured the ferocious 25-16 triumph for the Muskies. 
• In set five, Muskingum locked in back-to-back points to take the lead with a score of 6-1. Hiram retaliated with five consecutive points to tie up play to 6-6. The contest remained tight until the Muskies recorded the last four points to lock in the teams best start since 1999.

Up Next

• Muskingum next hosts the Mount Union Purple Raiders on Tuesday, October 15 for their Muskie Pride Game. Start time is slated for 7:00 p.m.