Marshall University Athletics
Volleyball Set For 2008 Campaign
8/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 28, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Marshall University volleyball team will begin its 2008 campaign at the Cincinnati Tournament beginning Friday, Aug. 29-Aug. 31.
The Thundering Herd will open its season against Tennessee Tech at 4:00 p.m., followed by a match against Wright State, Saturday at 10:00 a.m., before wrapping up tournament action against host Cincinnati, Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
The Herd will square off against Tennessee Tech in its first match. This year's contest marks the second ever meeting between the two squads, with Marshall taking the victory in the first meeting back in 2002. The Herd will then face Wright State, a team that owns an 8-2 advantage over Marshall in a series that dates back to 1975. The Herd will close out tournament action against host Cincinnati, who has a 7-3 series lead on Marshall that started in 1973.
Marshall is coming off of one of its best seasons in program history, finishing the year 23-9 overall (15-1 in Conference USA), and claiming its second regular-season title in the last three years.
The Herd takes to the court behind 2008 Preseason All-C-USA selections Elizabeth Fleming and Jalicia Ross. Both 2007 All-C-USA Second-Team members a season ago, Fleming was also the C-USA Freshman of the Year, AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, AVCA All-Midwest Region selection and the program's single-season leader in assists (1,642).
The squad also returns a pair of juniors, including Kristin Marcum, the team's leader in service aces (61) in 2007, and four sophomores, in addition to welcoming five freshmen to the team.
Entering his seventh season at the helm, head coach Mitch Jacobs (132-66 at Marshall) is just six wins shy of tying former head coach Linda Holmes (138-130-4 at Marshall) for most wins in program history. Holmes coached the green and white for seven seasons between 1976 and 1981. Jacobs reached the 300-win milestone last season against Tulsa, and currently has 314 career victories.
Marshall returns to non-conference action in the Marshall Tournament beginning Friday, Sept. 5 with a 7:00 p.m. match against Virginia Tech. The Herd will then take on ETSU at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, before concluding tournament play against Western Kentucky in the nightcap. All of the tournament matches will be played at the Cam Henderson Center.
