Herd Volleyball Swept By Western Michigan

Sept. 7, 2007

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Marshall University senior outside hitter Kelly-Anne Billingy (Trincity, Trinidad) tallied a team-high 12 kills but Western Michigan University had two players combine for 31 kills to lift the Broncos to a 3-0 (17-30, 18-30, 26-30) sweep of the Herd in Friday evening's non-conference volleyball match at the Valparaiso Popcorn Classic.

With the loss, Marshall drops its third straight decision and falls to 5-6 on the season, while Western Michigan wins its seventh consecutive match and improves to 7-1 overall.

Down two-games-to-none, the Herd tied the third game at 16-16 before Western Michigan used an 8-4 run to build a 24-20 lead. From there, the Herd fought off two match-point opportunities before a service error ended the match.

In the first game, the Broncos built an early 10-4 lead before the Herd scored six of the next eight points to climb to within one at 12-11. From there the Broncos used a 7-0 run to extend its lead to 19-11, and then used an 11-6 run to close out the game.

Western Michigan jumped to an early 7-0 lead in the second frame and did not look back. The Herd pulled to within seven at 12-19 but could get no closer as the Broncos used an 11-6 run to seal the victory in game two.

Junior middle hitter Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad) added eight kills, while freshman outside hitter Elizabeth Herman (Dunwoody, Ga.) recorded a collegiate-career-high four kills in the losing effort for the Herd.

Freshman setter Elizabeth Fleming (South Bend, Ind.) contributed 40 assists in the loss.

Marshall returns to action in the Friends of Coal Blue/Green Classic on Friday, Sept. 14, when it squares off against West Virginia University (in Charleston, W.Va.) at 7 p.m. Marshall will host Pepperdine on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude tournament play against Akron at 7 p.m. in Charleston.

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Players Mentioned

Kelly-Anne Billingy

Elizabeth Fleming

Elizabeth Herman

Jalicia Ross

Marshall University Athletics