Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Volleyball Hosts Cincinnati in Home Opener
9/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2005
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After playing its first 11 match on the road this season, the Thundering Herd volleyball team returns home to play host to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in its home opener at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Cam Henderson Center.
"We're really excited to be home again," Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "We're thankful for Cincinnati for bringing a nationally recognized NCAA program to the Cam Henderson Center and we look forward to a very competitive match."
Marshall enters the match with a 7-4 record overall after going 2-2 on its road trip to the state of Pennsylvania with wins over Penn and Seton Hall and losses to Pitt and No. 4 ranked Penn State.
The Herd welcomes Cincinnati to the Cam Henderson Center where Marshall is 24-4 in the last three seasons under Jacobs. The Bearcats come to Huntington riding a four-match winning streak with wins over Cal State Northridge, Jacksonville State, George Washington and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Bearcats also took No. 10 ranked UCLA to five-games.
The Herd and Bearcats are familiar opponents with UC holding a 2-7 advantage in the series, but Marshall took a five-game thriller last year over the 'Cats.
This will be Marshall's fifth match against a Big East opponent in 2005. The Herd is 3-1 in matches thus far with wins over West Virginia, Rutgers and Seton Hall and the lone loss coming to Pittsburgh.
The Thundering Herd is led into the match by Kelly-Anne Billingy with 128 kills on the season and a .321 hitting percentage. Stephanie Cahill is right behind her with 123 kills and senior Katie Stein is averaging 14 assists per game for the Herd this season.
Cincinnati is led by Jenn Custer with 118 kills and a .294 hitting percentage.
Fans are encouraged to attend and participate in the Giovanni's serving contest for free pizza and the Esquire Golf Challenge for a chance to win $100.
"It should be a fun match for fans and we encourage everyone to come out and support the Herd," Jacobs said.
