Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Houston
Marshall Sweeps Past Houston, 3-0
10/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2007
HOUSTON, Texas - Marshall University senior outside hitter Kelly-Anne Billingy tallied 17 kills to help lift the Herd to a 3-0 (30-27, 30-24, 30-24) sweep of the University of Houston in Sunday afternoon's Conference USA volleyball match in Houston.
With the win, Marshall improves to 18-8 on the season, 11-1 in conference play, while Houston falls to 12-11, 7-5 in C-USA action.
"To come to Houston and win both matches is an incredible feeling," head coach Mitch Jacobs said after the match. "The girls deserve every bit of this win today."
Trailing 14-10 in the third frame, the Herd tallied six unanswered points including a pair of kills by senior outside hitter Stephanie Cahill, and a pair of block assists by Billingy and senior middle hitter Uche Ndubisi. The Cougars were able to knot the game at 18 before Marshall posted a 12-6 run closed out by an Ndubisi kill to seal the game and victory for the Herd.
"There was a relaxed, focused feel to the match, and when we got rolling in game one, it was a solid performance all-around," Jacobs said.
In the second game, Marshall raced out to a 10-5 lead over the Cougars, and extended that lead to 15-9 behind a block and two kills from Cahill and a kill by Billingy. From there, Houston pulled to within two at 19-17, but could get no closer as the Herd used an 11-7 run to close out the game and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Following an early 5-1 Marshall lead in game one, neither team built more than a three-point lead in the game. Down 23-25, Marshall received three kills from Ross to give the Herd a 26-25 advantage. Marshall then scored four of the next six points, capped by a Cahill kill and Ndubisi block to seal the game.
Cahill tallied 11 kills and a match-high 16 digs and is now Marshall's second all-time kills leader. Ross added 13 kills and hit at a .529 clip for the match in a solid offensive performance.
Freshman setter Elizabeth Fleming handed out 48 assists, averaging 16 per game and directed the Herd offense to a .276 hitting percentage on the afternoon. Senior libero Maggie Arias chipped in with 14 digs on the afternoon, while the Herd defense out-blocked the Cougars 10.5-3.0.
"We have senior weekend coming up next weekend," Jacobs said. "I really hope the people of Huntington come out and show their support for the four seniors that have already won a championship, and are trying to win another one for the city of Huntington."
The Herd returns to C-USA action when it hosts Southern Miss. and UCF in its final conference home matches of the regular season. Marshall squares off against Southern Miss., Friday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. and will face UCF, Sunday, Nov. 4 with first serve scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
Marshall will host the 2007 Conference USA Championship on Nov. 15 to the 18th at the Cam Henderson Center and ticket prices are as follows:
Adult Advance:
$8/Day
$25/Tournament
Adult Walk-up
$10/Day
$30/Tournament
Youth Advance:
$6/Day
$20/Tournament
Youth Walk-up
$8/Day
$25 Walk-up
$15 Tournament Pre-Sale Group Rate (Groups larger than 10)
