Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
High Point
Volleyball Captures High Point University Classic
9/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2009
HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Marshall University volleyball team won its second match of the day with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) sweep of High Point to earn the High Point University Classic championship on Sunday evening.
The win propels the Herd to 7-0 on the season, with High Point dropping to 6-3. The Herd passed the 1980 MU team for the best start in the history of the volleyball program. The 1980 team started 6-0 before being knocked of by Princeton.
Setter Elizabeth Fleming was named the HPU Classic MVP for her efforts in three matches, while Emily Sullivan joined her on the all-tournament team.
For the tournament, Fleming averaged sets of 11.17 assists and 2.92 digs, while adding three block assists on the weekend. She collected back-to-back double-doubles against Charlotte and High Point to help garner MVP honors.
"Liz [Fleming] kept us stable, which made the biggest impact," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "She did a solid job throughout the whole weekend for us."
Sullivan was named to her second all-tournament team of the season. She earned recognition at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational last weekend. For the HPU Classic, Sullivan registered an average of 3.42 kills-per-set with a .400 (41K-7E-85TA) attacking percentage.
Against the Panthers, the Herd received double-doubles from Fleming and freshman Katy Schad to earn the sweep. Fleming dished out 36 assists and totaled 14 digs, while Schad recorded 13 kills and 12 digs for the winners.
"We knew High Point would be great, so a let down was the least of my worries," said Jacobs. "In game three, at 23-22 us, I told them `right now we have to close it out.' We were losing gas, and wanted to get the win and avoid a fourth set. After High Point called a timeout, Liz Fleming aced them and we closed them out.
Elizabeth Herman added a match-best 15 kills, while Sullivan added 10 kills of her own. Kristin Marcum and Ryanne Milligan chipped in with 12 and 15 digs, respectively.
The Panthers got a 13-kill performance from Megan Smith, and a 19-dig outing from Julie Hershkowitz.
The tournament victory marked the second championship the Herd has earned this season. Last weekend, MU traveled to Hempstead, N.Y., where the team won the Hofstra/Asics Invitational.
To win the HPU Classic, the Herd knocked off Charlotte in a five-set comeback victory on Sunday. MU also defeated Davidson in four sets on Saturday.
"Earlier today in the match [vs. Charlotte] I felt we were out played, but the team never stopped fighting," Jacobs said. "Charlotte played fantastic. We were down 13-9 in set five, but we kept fighting. Milligan made some of the best serves of her young career."
"[Cameron] Yoho was a difference maker against Davidson," Jacobs said. "She made them change everything they were trying to do."
Next on the schedule for the Herd is a trip to Greensboro, N.C., to play North Carolina A&T at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
