Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rice
Volleyball Unable to Hold Off Rice
10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2009
Box Score
HOUSTON, Texas- The Marshall University volleyball team fell in straight sets (32-30, 25-16, 25-19) to Conference USA foe Rice, Saturday night in Tudor Fieldhouse.
Elizabeth Fleming's 35 assists and Emily Sullivan's 12 kills weren't enough to thwart the Owls, who took the sweep after hitting at a .290 attacking clip as a team.
Also on the leader board was Kristin Marcum, who notched a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs on the night.
"We didn't match Rice's intensity or execution," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "Hopefully we learned a lot from this weekend and will be fully ready to commit to the final two weeks and secure a spot in the Conference USA tournament."
With the loss, MU remains shy of the 20-win mark with an overall record of 19-7 and moves to 7-5 in conference action. The Owls improve to 7-6 in C-USA play and 16-8 on the season.
In the first set, Elizabeth Herman led the offensive assault with a team-best seven kills while Fleming recorded 16 assists. Points rallied to both squads before the Herd gained command of the board at the 11-10 mark. MU then stretched a three-point lead, 13-10, off a kill by Herman and an attacking error by Rice. The Herd held control until the Owls forced ties from the 16-all mark on, as Rice captured the frame at 32-30.
Despite dropping the first set, MU topped the Owls in kills, 22-17, during the frame.
The second set saw a slow offensive start from the Herd, as it trailed going into the 6-all mark. From there, Rice would go on a 19-to-10 point run to claim a 25-16 win to take two sets headed into the break.
The Herd opened set three with a rough 11-4 deficit, but was able to climb back within five at the 14-9 mark with kills from Marcum, Sullivan and Cameron Yoho.
Marcum would finish with a set-best six kills and one block, while Sullivan would tag on an ace, four kills and one assist. Yoho would complete the night with a team-best .429 attacking percentage on seven kills.
MU came within five at the 24-19 mark but was unable to hold on for a run, as Rice took the final stanza 25-19 to claim the sweep.
The Thundering Herd will return home for its final homestand of the season to face UAB and Memphis on Nov. 6 and 8th, respectively. Friday's match against the Blazers is set to begin at 7 p.m., while Sunday's is set for 1 p.m.
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