By Russell Smythia MTN Sports Reporter March 26, 2021 MTSU holds a tiebreaker over Old Dominion for the last spot in the conference tournament headed into the weekend. MTSU has a rescheduled match against Florida Atlantic on Friday, while ODU has a series against No.18 Western Kentucky.
“We had 3 five-set matches in the conference that we lost,” said head coach Chuck Crawford. “If we win those matches we are in third place outright, but at that time we were still learning how to play at this level. For a young team to go back to the conference tournament experience that sensation for the first time bodes well for next year for the confidence.”
With a win over FAU, the Blue Raiders will move them into the last spot for the conference tournament outright. MTSU is looking to make the tournament for the second straight year after previously having a six year absence from the tournament.
“It just solidifies the belief we have in ourselves,” said junior Emma Grever. “Shows the consistency we are building in the program. I know the program is going in the right direction because we’ve been able to repeat it.”
The Blue Raiders are coming off of a hard weekend series against Western Kentucky. They were swept in both games.
FAU only has one win on the season and it came against MTSU. The Owls beat the Blue Raiders in a hard fought five set match to open conference play. That win marked the seventh straight win over the Blue Raiders.
“We’re really excited,” said Grever. “Kind of a redemption match, we felt like we didn’t play our best the last time we played so now we’re ready.”
In the first match FAU won the 25-15,23-25,25-19,20-25,15-12. MTSU out scored the Owls but they also out-errored them which led to the defeat.
“I feel confident that we will control our side of the court better,” said Crawford. “I feel like we are a better, more well-rounded team than the first time we played them.”
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