Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
North Carolina
Volleyball Takes North Carolina in Three
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 12, 2009
Strong attack boosts Herd past Tar Heels in Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Marshall University volleyball team opened its second game of the Carolina Classic Saturday morning, with a three-game sweep over tournament-host North Carolina.
MU (10-1) recovered from a 3-0 loss to Colorado State on Friday, to take UNC (4-4) in three sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-21). The Herd jumped to a strong start with aces by Kristin Marcum and Emily Sullivan to put the club up 6-4 in the first set.
Marshall continued to hold the lead at the 12-7 mark on a block-assist by Elizabeth Herman and Sullivan. UNC attempted to break up the run, but Ryanne Milligan returned with a pair aces and the team collected four kills under her serve to extend the lead to 18-7. MU notched an 11-point lead twice during the first set, the second coming at the 19-8 mark.
The Tar Heels managed to climb within three points at 24-21, before the Herd shut them out of the first set with a kill by Herman. MU finished the set with four aces and 13 kills. Fleming dished out 12 assists, with Herman putting up five kills and two blocks. Sullivan chipped in with four kills, an ace and a block.
"I am so proud of this team for the way they regrouped and played this morning," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "But just like last night, it's time to focus on the next one and Tennessee is a huge challenge in front of us. UNC got them last night, so I'm expecting them to be very determined in their matches today."
In set two, the Herd fell behind two points before rallying four straight points, with a block-assist from Marcum and Sullivan to push a 4-2 lead. The Tar Heels surged ahead to 8-5 to force a Marshall timeout.
Elizabeth Fleming came back from the break with a kill from Milligan, while Sullivan followed with an ace to bring the Herd back within reach at 8-7. Not to be outdone, Cameron Yoho punched in with a kill of her own three points later to tie it up at 9-9.
The Herd would stay on top with a strong performance that included a Katy Schad ace, followed by kills from Marcum and Herman to add spice to a 17-11 MU lead.
"Our biggest key to beating Carolina was our serving game and the play we got from our middles," said Jacobs. "Offensively they were fantastic and defensively they did enough to make UNC's middles have to adjust from their normal games."
UNC looked to make a comeback at 24-16, as the Tar Heels would win the next five points. Yoho silenced the run with a kill from Fleming as the Herd took game two 25-21.
The Herd continued its momentum into the third as they carried an 11-4 advantage to open the set. UNC's Cora Harms led a Tar Heels tear to close the gap at 12-7. MU held on through a teeter-totter rally of points before taking control at 22-20.
The MU club never gave up the lead in the third set, as Sullivan put up five kills, and Herman and Yoho added four kills each. The Herd clenched the sweep after it chalked a .379 attack percentage in the third set, in a 25-21 win.
"Beating a team that has wins this season against Oklahoma and Tennessee is a great confidence builder," Jacobs said.
For the day, the Herd was led offensively by Fleming who posted a 40-assist performance, Herman, who had 12 kills and Sullivan with 11 kills. As a team, MU boasted a .287 attacking percentage over UNC's .160.
The Herd will return for its final game of the Carolina Classic as it takes on Tennessee at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night.
Live stats for the Carolina Classic can be viewed by logging onto the UNC athletics website at www.tarheelblue.com.
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