Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Memphis
Volleyball Comes From Behind to Drop Memphis, 3-2
11/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2006
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Marshall Thundering Herd women's volleyball team came from behind in dramatic fashion to defeat the Memphis Tigers, 3-2 (28-30, 22-30, 30-28, 30-28, 15-13) Friday night.
Memphis (23-6, 9-4 C-USA) had won seven of its past eight coming into the match and jumped out to an early lead. The Herd (19-9, 11-3 C-USA) dropped the first two games of the match after hitting .189 as a team before the break. Marshall returned to the court for game three and finally took a lead at the 10-9 mark that would change the momentum of the match in favor of the Herd.
"Hats off to the Memphis crowd and Memphis team, we have to give them a lot of credit they never faded and they are tough," Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said.
Leading the Herd offensively was Kelly-Anne Billingy. Her match-high 30 kills along with a career-high of nine blocks by Chelsea Lazar gave the Herd a win over its fifth straight opponent.
"Chelsea had a great night and she needed to stay focused on her blocking and that's what she did," Jacobs said. "Uche Ndubisi was unbelievable offensively. It was a team game."
Also contributing on the Herd's offense was Stephanie Cahill and Ndubisi. Cahill supplied 18 kills and Ndubisi 15. Combined with Billingy's output, the trio totaled 63 of the Herd's 73 kills.
The Herd had six players scoring blocks on the night, led by Lazar who posted a previous career-best of eight against Radford on Aug. 26. This was the fifth time this season Lazar had six or more blocks. Also throwing up blocks for the Herd was Billingy with five, Ndubisi with four, Cahill and Christin Bimberg with three and Emily Sullivan with two.
"We did a nice job on blocking," Jacobs said. "Both teams played a great match. Other than game two no one was out of the match."
Setting the Herd again was reigning C-USA Setter of the Week Bimberg. Her 61 assists was here fifth-highest total of the senior's career.
Defensively the Herd had four players with 10 or more digs. Leading the way was Maggie Arias with 21. The last time Arias had more than 20 digs was on Sept. 22 against UTEP. Friday night marked the fourth time this season Arias went over the 20 this season.
"We did a nice job defensively that team," Jacobs said. "We out defended what an excellent defensive team. We were a better defensive team than our average is and we made it tough on them."
Cahill finished the match with her 10th double-double of the season with her 16 digs and 18 kills while and Bimberg recorded her sixth with 10 digs accompanying her 61 assists. Freshman Kristin Marcum also found double digits in the dig category with 14.
The Herd will finish the weekend with UAB on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Birmingham.
