Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Marshall Volleyball Knocks Off UAB, 3-0
11/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 11, 2005
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Thundering Herd volleyball team continued its hot-streak with a 3-0 win Friday night in the Cam Henderson Center as it knocked off the UAB Blazers 30-22, 30-25, 30-18.
On what was declared Thundering Herd Volleyball Appreciation Day by the City of Huntington, the Marshall squad didn't disappoint the large crowd of 715 that turned out to support the team. With the win, Marshall improves to 22-5 and 14-1 in Conference USA. The loss drops UAB to 14-11 overall and 5-9 in C-USA play.
Marshall has now won 15 of its last 16 and stayed unbeaten in the Cam Henderson Center this season with the win (8-0). Marshall has now won an impressive 32 out of its last 36 matches in the Henderson Center.
The Thundering Herd jumped out to a quick start as senior Katie Stein served for eight-straight points to give the Herd a 9-1 advantage in game one. UAB quietly clawed back into the match, pulling within four at 21-17, but that is as close as it would get as the Herd finished strong on kills from Amber Sims, Kelly-Anne Billingy, a block by Katie Stein and Nickie Sanlin and then a kill by Stephanie Cahill to end game one 30-22.
The Herd would struggle to find a rhythm early in game two and found themselves deadlocked with the Blazers at 15-15. The seniors for the Herd would then step up and lead the team on a run to take a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the night.
"When we came out with the great service run to start game one, I thought we got a little lethargic, but I was very happy with the way we came back and responded with energy to finish things off," Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "I thought we created a lot of trouble for UAB at the end with our defense."
The Herd used the energy it gained at the end of the second game to pull away from the Blazers in game three. Once the Herd got going, it led by no less than five after the score reached double-digits. The Herd went on to take game three 30-18 to secure the victory.
Leading the way for Marshall on the night was Billingy with 14 kills and a .371 hitting percentage. Cahill also finished in double-digits in kills on the night with 10 for the Herd to go along with 11 digs and a .304 hitting percentage.
Stein continued to add to her impressive season totals as the senior had 42 assists on the night, 11 digs, five kills and two service aces and three block assists.
Defensively, the Herd had three players in double-figures in digs, Stein, Cahill and Taylor Tanner (10). Maggie Arias finished with nine digs on the evening. On the blocking end for the Herd, Sims finished with three block assists and two solos to lead all players.
"Our seniors were great tonight. When we were a little down, they pumped us up and kept us going," Jacobs said. "Steph Cahill and Kelly also had good nights to keep us going."
The Conference USA Regular Season champs hit for a .312 percentage on the night while holding UAB to a .160 clip.
Marshall will now turn its focus to Memphis. The Tigers are the only team that has spoiled the Herd's march through Conference USA when it knocked off Marshall on Oct. 16, 3-2, in Memphis. First serve against the Tigers is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Herd will be honoring its senior class, Stein, Sims and Sanlin prior to the match. The group of seniors are the only class to finish with four-straight 20-win seasons in the modern era of volleyball at Marshall.
"It should be an exciting day on Sunday," Jacobs said. "We have to be ready for Memphis to keep our momentum going as we get ready for the tournament. Hopefully, we get a large crowd to come out and cheer on the Herd and show their support to this senior class."
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