Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
Volleyball Mounts Comeback to Defeat Charlotte in Five Sets
9/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2009
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Emily Sullivan recorded a career-high 21 kills, including the match winner in the fifth and deciding game to lead Marshall past Charlotte, 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-16, 16-14), on Sunday afternoon at the High Point University Classic.
With the win, MU stays undefeated at 6-0, while Charlotte falls to 2-5 on the season. The six-straight victories to open a season is the best start in program history since the 1980 team also started 6-0.
MU picked up a victory in set two, which was sandwiched in between losses in games one and three. The Herd entered the fourth set, trailing 2-1. It was the first match this season that MU trailed entering the fourth frame.
Trading points for the beginning stages of the set, the Herd held a 9-8 advantage before embarking on a 7-2 run to force the 49ers into their second timeout of the set. After the timeout, MU continued its strong play, including five kills from Sullivan and seven digs for Elizabeth Herman to close out the set, 25-16 and force a fifth and deciding set.
The Herd fell behind in the fifth stanza, 9-4, after a kill from Charlotte's Jenna Litoborski and sent MU into a timeout. MU was able to inch its way back into the set, cutting the deficit to two points, 12-10, which caused the 49ers to use a timeout.
MU knotted the score at 13-all on the 20th kill of the night by Sullivan, which was set up by Elizabeth Fleming.
The score would even up again, 14-14, before MU would take advantage of a serving error from the 49ers and setting up the career-high 21st kill for Sullivan to earn a five-set comeback victory.
Sullivan totaled her 21 kills on 44 total attacks with five errors for a .364 attacking percentage. She added four digs and a solo block and block assist on the evening.
Fleming, Marcum and Katy Schad each registered double-doubles for the Herd. A stat line of 53 assists, 15 digs, four kills and two block assists was poured in by Fleming. Marcum tallied 15 kills and 12 digs, while Schad added 17 kills and 15 digs.
On the defensive side, Ryanne Milligan continued her solid play at the libero position. She tallied a team-best 19 digs. Herman added a career-high 12 digs along with five kills. Cameron Yoho tallied three block assists and hit at a .455 (6K-1E-11TA) percentage.
The 49ers were led by Bianca Rouse, who recorded 14 kills. Sheri Davis and Kathleen Hicks each chipped in with nine kills each, while Kaitlin Knight recorded a match-high 21 digs.
MU is back on the court tonight against tournament-host High Point in the final match of the High Point University Classic. The match is slated for 7 p.m.
