Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Volleyball Falls at UAB
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Marshall University volleyball team dropped a Conference USA match in three sets, (21-25, 21-25, 16-25) to the UAB Blazers on Thursday night at the Bartow Arena.
MU (21-8, 9-6 C-USA) swept UAB (16-15, 8-7 C-USA) last Friday, but the Blazers were able to even the season series with the victory. The Herd still holds a one-game lead in the conference standings and the sixth spot in the tournament bracket. The Blazers remain a game behind in the seventh slot, with each club having one match remaining on the season.
"Our struggles on the road continue," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "We are hoping to see our leadership step up and demand more of their teammates to prepare to play."
An Emily Sullivan kill in the match's opening set put the Herd up 13-10. The lead for MU would not last long, as the Blazers evened the score at 15-all. Back-to-back service aces by Sam Serley, followed by a Herd attacking error pushed the UAB advantage to three points, 18-15. Kristin Marcum connected for a kill to put the Herd within one, 19-18, but the Blazers closed out the set on a 6-3 run to win, 25-21.
The Blazers jumped out to a 6-2 advantage in the second frame and held the lead throughout. The Herd would get within a point, 17-16, on an attacking error from UAB. However, the Blazers answered back on a 4-0 spurt to take a five-point cushion (21-16) and hold on to own a 2-0 set advantage entering the third stanza.
UAB held an early 7-1 lead and would cruise the rest of the frame to take the third and final set of the night, 25-16.
"Tonight we ran into a very determined UAB team and we just didn't measure up to their desire," Jacobs said. "They wanted and got redemption for last week's loss to us at our place."
Elizabeth Herman tallied a team-best 10 kills, while Sullivan chipped in with nine kills of her own.
Ryanne Milligan and Marcum tied for match medalist honors in digs with 16 apiece in the loss. Setter Elizabeth Fleming dished out 33 assists for the Herd.
MU concludes the regular season with a trip to Greenville, N.C., to play East Carolina on Saturday at noon inside Minges Coliseum.
"We better stay focused on Saturday to give ourselves a shot to play in the four-five matchup at the C-USA tourney," Jacobs said.
GameTracker will be available for the match against the ECU Pirates by logging onto HerdZone.com.
