Marshall University Athletics
Herd Volleyball Ready To Open Season Against Radford
8/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Herd Volleyball Ready To Open Season Against Radford
8/31/2004
HUNTINGTON, W.Va ? Page one in the new chapter of Thundering Herd volleyball begins Wednesday night, September 1, against the Radford Highlanders at 7 p.m. in the Cam Henderson Center.
Looking to build on the foundation of back-to-back 20-win seasons, third-year head coach Mitch Jacobs and his squad are ready to get the season started.
?It?s very exciting to get out on the court and get the season on its way,? Jacobs said. ?It?s also going to be exciting to see our freshmen get out there and play in a Herd uniform for the first time. There?s going to be some nerves, but it?ll be good to play and get some experience under our belt before we go down to Wake Forest this weekend.?
The 2004 version of the Herd comes into the season with high hopes after finishing last year 21-16 and making it to the Mid-American Conference tournament finals. The returning foundation of the team is headed by three juniors with no seniors on the roster: Katie Stein (Sussex, Wisc.), Amber Sims (Ney, Ohio) and Nickie Sanlin (Fairview Heights, Ill.) return from last year?s starting lineup and sophomore Christin Bimberg (Schwerin, Germany) returns from a solid freshman season to help anchor the Marshall lineup as the freshman class gets accustomed to the Herd style of play.
The Herd?s newcomers looking to help make an impact in 2004 are Maggie Arias (Indianapolis, Ind.); Stephanie Cahill (Louisville, Ky.); Chelsea Lazar (Palm Harbor, Fla.); Uche Ndubisi (Indianapolis, Ind.); Carlee Maddox (St. Joseph, Mich.); Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad); Kelly-Anne Billingy (Trincity, Trinidad) and Jan Bierce (Wheeling, W.Va).
Radford comes into Huntington after finishing the 2003 campaign with a record of 4-27. The Herd downed the Highlanders 3-0 (30-15, 30-26 and 30-26) last year in Radford, Va., with Sims leading the way with a 10 kill performance and .526 hitting percentage.
Radford head coach Michael Burch?s squad features four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
?Radford has a good coach and a good core of returning players,? Jacobs said. ?We hope we?re up for the challenge and we hope to get things started with a ?W.?
The Herd players are also hoping to get things started on the right foot by putting an early notch in the win column.
?We?re ready to see some competition in another uniform,? junior Nickie Sanlin said. ?We?re excited to get out on the court and also to see what we need to improve on.?
Sanlin and Sims return in the middle for the Herd, both ended last season with 133 and 138 blocks respectively. Stein returns as the Herd?s No. 2 all-time setter after her mark of 1,579 in 2003 moved her career total to 2,898.
Some other notes of interest surrounding Wednesday?s season opener is a chalk talk session for fans with Jacobs in the Big Green room at 6:30 and a post-game pizza/sub party for fans to meet the team and have a chance to be a part of the Thundering Herd Spikers booster club. Both activities are open to all interested Herd fans.
