Marshall University Athletics
MU Volleyball Falls to Ohio in MAC Championship
11/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MU Volleyball Falls to Ohio in MAC Championship
11/23/2003
- Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Marshall volleyball team's unprecedented Mid-American Conference Tournament run came to an end on Sunday in the league championship match at the hands of the number one-seeded Ohio Bobcats by a 3-0 (20-30, 23-30, 18-30) final score at Ball State's Worthen Arena.
Marshall freshman Christin Bimberg (Schwerin, Germany) recorded eight kills to lead the Herd attack while sophomore Jen Harper (Columbus, Ohio) and senior Nicole Michal (Louisville, Ky.) added seven kills each.
The Thundering Herd (21-16, 8-8 MAC) made its first appearance in the MAC tournament's championship match, following the school's initial tournament win on Nov. 18 versus Toledo. Marshall defeated its next two opponents (No. 2 Central Michigan and No. 3 Akron) on the way to the championship match against the Bobcats.
"I'm so proud at the way that they fought today," Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "We had our chances, but we played erratically at times."
Two-time MAC Player of the Year Laura Hageman and the Ohio Bobcats will advance to the NCAA Tournament. OU's Lindsay Judice posted a match-high 13 kills to go along with Julia Winkfield's 10 kills. Hageman registered eight kills, seven digs and five blocks.
Hageman was named the tournament's most valuable player. Marshall's Christin Bimberg (Schwerin, Germany) and Ashley Barnard (Maumee, Ohio) were all-tournament team selections. Barnard broke MU's single-season dig record in the semifinal win over Akron, adding nine digs on Sunday to give the senior 530 digs in 2003.
Marshall tallied 28 errors in the match to the Bobcats' 15 errors. Ohio defeated the Herd on three occasions this season, compiling a 9-0 games won record.
Jacobs is the first coach in Herd history to post 20-plus wins in the first two years at the helm of the Marshall volleyball program.