Marshall University Athletics
C-USA Volleyball Preseason Poll Announced
8/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 4, 2008
08 C-USA Volleyball Preseason Poll 
IRVING, Texas - The Marshall University volleyball team was tabbed in the fifth slot of the recently announced 2008 Conference USA Volleyball Preseason Poll. Senior Jalicia Ross and sophomore Elizabeth Fleming were both named to the preseason all-conference team as voted on by the head coaches.
The Thundering Herd is coming off an impressive 2007 campaign with a 23-9 overall record and a near perfect league mark of 15-1, as Marshall captured its second regular season crown in the last two years.
"I guess it's a long fall from grace when you lose four all-conference players to graduation," Herd head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "I think that if we are the fifth best team in this league at the end, then C-USA volleyball will be even tougher than it has been in the past."
Fleming spent part of her summer playing volleyball in Israel as part of the Athletes in Action program. The 2007 C-USA Freshman of the Year became Marshall's single-season assists leader when she dished out 1,642 helpers, a figure that ranks 11th best on C-USA's all-time single season charts. She also ranked 13th in the nation, and second among all freshman setters, with a 13.35 assists per game average. In addition to her conference honors, Fleming was named to the AVCA All- Midwest Region Team as well as Region Freshman of the Year. Fleming was also listed as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
Ross finished second on the team with 94 blocks (22 solo, 72 assisted). She also led the league in hitting percentage, swinging at a .370 clip in 2007, as she recorded a career-high 296 kills. Ross and Fleming were All-C-USA second team honorees last year.
"Hopefully the community will stay behind us as we redefine ourselves," added Jacobs. Marshall returns three starters (and eight letterwinners overall), from last season's regular season championship squad, and will welcome in five freshmen. "Trust me when I say that the future of Marshall Volleyball is now. The returning players on this team have been waiting patiently behind that past senior class and can't wait to show what they have to our fans. This team will grow with every match as our young players start to gain confidence."
