Marshall University Athletics
Herd Volleyball Opens Season at Miami
8/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 28, 2005
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Thundering Herd volleyball team hits the road for its 2005 season opener in familiar territory. Marshall will head to Oxford, Ohio to take on the Miami RedHawks in a 7 p.m. matchup Monday at Millet Hall.
The Herd and RedHawks are former foes from the Mid-American Conference where the two teams had squared off since Marshall's arrival in 1997. With the Herd's jump to Conference USA in 2005, Marshall and the RedHawks are continuing the rivalry to open the new season for both squads.
In the series all-time the RedHawks hold a 13-4 advantage, with the two teams splitting the series last year.
The Herd finished 2004 22-11 and in second place in the MAC East and went on to place second in the MAC Tournament to Ohio. The RedHawks were 9-17 last season, but are expected to be strong in the MAC this season as they were picked second in the East Division preseason poll. The Herd was picked second behind Rice in the C-USA preseason poll.
The Herd has put together three-straight 20-win seasons under head coach Mitch Jacobs and are led into the 2005 season with its entire starting lineup and core back from last year. Marshall is led by seniors Katie Stein, Nickie Sanlin and Amber Sims, who together are the only class in Marshall history to be a part of three-straight 20-win seasons. Stein is in position this season to break all of Marshall's career setting and service records, while Sims and Sanlin are climbing the record books in the blocking categories.
Marshall also returns seven more players who saw considerable playing time in 2004. Leading the host of underclassmen is sophomore Kelly-Anne Billingy. The Trincity, Trinidad native shattered the Marshall record books last season with 694 kills and made national headlines as an honorable mention All-American. She was also the MAC Freshman of the Year, AVCA Mideast Region Freshman of the Year and was CVU.com National Player of the Week on Oct. 12 last year. Billingy was tabbed as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year.
The Thundering Herd is 15-17 all-time in season openers and will look to add a notch on the winning side Monday night in Oxford, Ohio against the RedHawks.
First serve is set for 7 p.m.
