Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UCF
UCF Outlasts Volleyball, 3-2
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. - Marshall University's Emily Sullivan (Cincinnati, Ohio) blasted a team-high 20 kills but UCF was able to hold off the Thundering Herd comeback as the Knights held on for a thrilling 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 12-15) victory in Friday night's Conference US A volleyball match in Orlando, Fla.
With the loss, Marshall falls to 8-6 overall, 1-3 in league competition, while UCF improves to 11-6 overall and 3-1 in C-USA action.
Leading 2-1 in the match, UCF claimed a 24-21 lead in the fourth set before Marshall made a furious 5-0 run that was highlighted by three kills and a solo block from Sullivan, and a service ace by Layne Kehl (Mountain Top, Pa.), as the Herd took the set 26-24 to send the match to the deciding fifth set.
UCF posted an 11-7 lead in the fifth set and extended its lead to 14-10 before a kill by Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad) and a UCF attacking error to bring Marshall to within two at 14-12. From there, the Knights received a kill from Stephanie Serna to seal the set and the match.
Friday night marked Marshall's first loss to UCF since the series began in 1992. The Knights swept the Herd 3-0 in that contest. Marshall now leads the all-time series 8-2.
UCF built a 17-10 lead in the opening set before Marshall responded with a 10-6 run to pull to within two at 23-21 that was capped by a Kehl kill. Erin Campbell then registered a kill to put the Knights ahead by three at 24-21, but Megan Carlson (Andover, Minn.) responded with a kill to bring the Herd back to within two at 24-22. Campbell sealed the set for UCF with a kill to give the Knights a 1-0 lead in the match.
UCF jumped out to an early 4-1 lead before the teams fought to six ties. With the frame knotted at 15-15, Marshall took its first lead of the set, an advantage it would not relinquish. UCF pulled to within one three times, and with the score 24-23 in favor of the Herd, Ross sealed the set with her sixth put down of the stanza to even the contest at one set apiece.
With the set tied at 16-16 in the third frame, UCF used a 5-2 run to post a 21-18 edge. A pair of blocks extended the Knights' lead to 23-19 before Ross responded with a kill to get Marshall to within two at 23-20. Elizabeth Herman (Dunwoody, Ga.) brought the Herd one point closer with a kill, but UCF received a kill from Janine Williams and Jenny Heppert to close out the set 25-21, and stake a 2-1 lead in the contest.
Sullivan finished with a .429 hitting percentage (20K, 5E, 35TA), while Ross totaled 17 kills on 31 swings for a .484 hitting clip. Herman added 10 kills to round out Herd players in double-digits.
Elizabeth Fleming (South Bend, Ind.) passed out 58 assists, while Carlson finished with a team-best 13 digs. Jessica Dhoore (LaPorte, Ind.) added 12 digs in the losing effort.
UCF received a match-best 22 kills from Campbell, 17 from Serna and 14 from Williams. Heppert chipped in 13 kills in the winning effort. Lauren Rosenthal paced the Knights' offense with 67 assists, while Campbell and Heppert solidified the UCF defense with 14 and 13 digs respectively.
Marshall returns to C-USA action, Sunday, with a 1:00 p.m. ET contest at Southern Miss.
