Marshall University Athletics
MU Volleyball Begins '03 Campaign with Loss to Montana
8/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MU Volleyball Begins '03 Campaign with Loss to Montana
8/29/2003
- Box Score
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? In what head coach Mitch Jacobs described as a ?lethargic? performance, the Marshall University volleyball team dropped its first match of the 2003 season to the Montana Grizzlies, 3-1 (21-30, 31-29, 25-30, 27-30), in the first match of the Indiana State Tournament.
Marshall?s achilles heel turned out to be its 20 service errors, a statistic that plagued the Thundering Herd (0-1) in 2002. ?Fifteen (service errors) would have been forgiving, but 20 was just too many,? Jacobs said.
Montana (1-0) came out of the gates in a flurry, registering a .387 team hitting percentage in the first game, which the Grizzlies won 30-21. The Herd squeaked out a 31-29 game two victory despite recording 13 errors and a .073 hitting percentage in the second stanza.
Montana?s Lizzie Wertz turned out to be a thorn in the side of the Herd, smacking 11 kills while logging a match-high 18 digs. Marshall?s Isabell Anderer (Sinsheim, Germany) equaled Wetz?s dig total (18) and led both teams with 15 kills for an outstanding .324 hitting percentage and a season-opening double-double.
Marshall errors continued to be the story the rest of the way, as the Herd?s nine game- four errors equaled the Grizzlies total error output for the match?s final two games.
?We?ve got to get it through our heads that we have to play hard every point,? Jacobs said. ?Montana just played better than us today.?
Marshall must regroup in a hurry before its two scheduled matches on Saturday. The Thundering Herd will face the host Sycamores at 11:30 a.m. before taking on UT-Chattanooga at 4:30 p.m.
