Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
East Carolina
Volleyball Takes Conference Opener Against East Carolina In Four
9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University volleyball team defeated East Carolina, 3-1 (25-21, 29-31, 25-20, 25-22) in the team's Conference USA opener inside the Cam Henderson Center on Saturday afternoon. The win propels the Herd's record to 12-2 (1-0 C-USA), while the Pirates drop to 5-6 (0-1 C-USA).
Elizabeth Herman, Kristin Marcum and Emily Sullivan all tallied double-digit kill performances in the victory. Herman led the squad with 16 kills on 32 attempts and made just one miscue for an impressive .469 attacking percentage. The junior added eight digs, a solo block and a block assist for the winners.
Sullivan and Marcum each tallied 15 kills on 26 attempts for an identical .423 attacking percentage. Sullivan recorded four digs, three blocks assists and a service ace, while Marcum added five digs to help MU up its record to 9-1 all-time against the Pirates.
"We had very high hitting percentages out of our three upperclassmen [Herman, Marcum, Sullivan] and they stayed focus, which was the difference in today's game," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "Emily Sullivan continues to have an outstanding season for us."
After splitting the first two sets, the Herd came out with great determination in the third frame of the match. MU outhit ECU .545 to .138 in attacking percentage in the set, while collecting four of their five blocks of the match in that set.
"We came out on fire in game three, hitting .545 as a team," Jacobs said. "It was by far our most offensively efficient outburst of the year. We win the game 25-20, and you have to give ECU credit because we were not being stopped offensively and they were staying right with us, which gave them confidence to stay in the game."
MU jumped out to an 8-3 advantage in set four, but ECU was able to fight back into the game, locking the score at 10-10. The lead grew to three points, 15-12, after Sullivan slammed a kill to force an ECU timeout. The score would become knotted again at 20 and 21-all, before the Herd could close out the set and match, taking the fourth and final game, 25-22.
Setter Elizabeth Fleming dished out a match-best 49 assists, while registering nine digs, just missing her seventh double-double of the season.
"Liz Fleming is doing an outstanding job by mixing things up and moving the offense around," Jacobs said.
Ryanne Milligan was the match medalist in digs, recording 16, while Katy Schad chipped in with 12 digs and five kills.
"Katy Schad had a couple big kills down the stretch when we really needed her," Jacobs said. "She was really good in game four and it is important for us as a team to stay in it and be focused throughout the match."
MU will host in-state rival West Virginia for the Battle of the Golden Ball on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Cam Henderson Center.
