Herd Volleyball Advances Past Gardner-Webb, 3-2

Aug. 31, 2007

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Marshall University volleyball senior outside hitter Stephanie Cahill (Louisville, Ky.) tallied a match-high 28 kills and added 20 digs to help lift the Herd to a 3-2 (30-19, 28-30, 30-22, 22-30, 15-6) victory over Gardner-Webb University in Friday afternoon's non-conference match at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky.

With the win, Marshall improves to 3-2 overall while Gardner-Webb falls to 1-4 overall.

Trailing two-games-to-one, Gardner-Webb built an advantage throughout the fourth game. The Herd cut into the lead twice and was able to get to within three at 21-19. Following five consecutive points from the Lady Bulldogs, Marshall again fought back to get to within five at 26-21 but could get no closer, as the Lady Bulldogs were able to force the decisive game five.

Cahill and sophomore outside hitter Kristin Marcum (Arlington, Texas) led the charge for the Herd in game five posting three kills apiece en route to a 15-6 win. Marcum also registered a double-double as she finished with a collegiate-career-high 19 kills and 19 digs.

"It was as very hard fought match," head coach Mitch Jacobs said after the match. "I was very proud of our energy."

With a 24-19 lead, the Herd sealed game one when senior libero Maggie Arias (Indianapolis, Ind.) setup Cahill who hit over a ball that was deep out of system. Senior middle hitter Uche Ndubisi (Indianapolis, Ind.) then teamed with Marcum to thwart the ensuing attack by the Lady Bulldogs and lift the Herd to a 25-19 lead. Marshall did not look back, scoring the next five points to end the game.

Arias registered a match-high 24 digs and junior defensive specialist Taylor Tanner (Union, Ky.) added 15 digs for the Herd.

In game two, the Herd trailed 26-27 but received kills from Cahill, Ndubisi and sophomore outside hitter Emily Sullivan (Cincinnati, Ohio) to knot the game at 28-28, but Gardner-Webb received a kill from Carrie Long and a block from Bethany Martin to claim a 30-28 win and even the match at one game apiece.

In the third frame, Marshall built a 23-19 lead before the Lady Bulldogs were able to cut its deficit to five (25-20). From there, Marcum added a pair of kills while junior middle hitter Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad) added a solo block and assisted freshman setter Elizabeth Fleming (South Bend, Ind.) on a block to extend the Herd lead to 29-21. Fleming then tallied her second kill of the match to seal the game-three victory.

Sullivan finished with a collegiate-career-high 13 kills and Fleming added 67 assists in the victory for the Herd.

"I thought we had some sloppy play that kept the match close at times," Jacobs added. "We stepped up in game five and I have to be proud of what they've done."

The Herd returns to Western Kentucky Tournament action Saturday, Sept. 1 when it faces Tennessee State University at 12:30 p.m., followed by host Western Kentucky University at 7 p.m. in the nightcap.

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Players Mentioned

Maggie Arias

Stephanie Cahill

Elizabeth Fleming

Kristin Marcum

Uche Ndubisi

Jalicia Ross

Emily Sullivan

Taylor Tanner

Marshall University Athletics