Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Cincinnati
Volleyball Falls To Cincinnati, 3-0
8/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 31, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Marshall University's Emily Sullivan (Cincinnati, Ohio) totaled a team-high 11 kills, but Cincinnati's Stephanie Niemer notched a match-best 17 kills to lift the Bearcats to a 3-0 (22-25, 21-25, 16-25) sweep of the Thundering Herd in Sunday afternoon's non-conference volleyball match at Fifth Third Arena.
With the loss, Marshall falls to 2-1 on the season, while Cincinnati remains undefeated at 3-0 overall.
"These are the things we're going to see happen," head coach Mitch Jacobs said following the match. "This is a young and inexperienced group, but there was definitely good stuff to build on after this weekend."
Trailing 2-0 in the match, Marshall pulled to within two at 14-12 in the third set on the strength of a pair of kills from Sullivan, junior Kristin Marcum (Arlington, Texas) and senior Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad), but could get no closer, as Cincinnati scored six straight points and 11 of the next 15 to seal the victory.
In the first frame, the teams fought to nine ties and four lead changes before Marshall was able to pull to within one at 23-22 late in the stanza before a kill each from Missy Harpenau and Niemer preserved the first set win for the Bearcats.
Trailing 1-0, Marshall took a 17-12 lead in the second stanza before Cincinnati notched four straight points to get to within one at 17-16. After a kill by Niemer evened the frame at 20 points apiece, the Bearcats scored five of the next six points courtesy of three attacking errors by the Herd and a pair of kills by Niemer to secure a 2-0 lead in the contest.
Sophomore setter Elizabeth Fleming (South Bend, Ind.) dished out 30 assists, while freshman Megan Carlson (Andover, Minn.) contributed six kills and 10 digs and hit at a .364 clip (6 K, 2 E, 11 TA). Redshirt sophomore Layne Kehl (Mountain Top, Pa.) added three assisted blocks, while Marcum finished with eight kills and a solo block.
"I thought Sullivan played consistently well all weekend, and Marcum had a good weekend as well," Jacobs added. "Both Carlson and Dhoore had excellent first weekends of their career."
Sullivan finished with a .421 hitting percentage (11 K, 3 E, 19 TA) and Ross added six kills and a solo block as both were named to the 2008 State Farm Bearcats Invitational all-tournament team.
The Herd returns to action Friday, Sept. 5 at the Marshall University Tournament. Marshall will face Virginia Tech in its home-opener Friday. Match-time is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center. The Herd will continue tournament play Saturday against East Tennessee State at 1:00 p.m. and will round out tournament action against Western Kentucky at 7:00 p.m.
2008 Bearcats Invitational All-Tournament Team
Cincinnati - Stephanie Niemer (MVP)
Cincinnati - Kelsey Brandl
Cincinnati - Jessie Nevitt
Marshall - Jalicia Ross
Marshall - Emily Sullivan
Tennessee Tech - Leah Meffert
Wright State - Becca Awaa
