Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Houston
Houston Holds Off Volleyball in Five Sets
11/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2010
HOUSTON - The Marshall University volleyball received a career-high 20 kills from sophomore Abby Tomas, but Houston was able to hold off the Thundering Herd, 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 8-15) on Sunday afternoon in Conference USA action.
Tomas finished the match with 20 kills on 33 attacks with only three miscues to register a career-best .515 hitting percentage. The Aledo, Texas, native added two block assists and two digs as Marshall dropped to 10-18 overall, 4-12 in C-USA play.
Elizabeth Fleming tied a season-high with 56 assists and added 11 digs en route to her team-best 13th double-double of the season.
Other offensive weapons included Laur Der, who finished with 15 kills and nine digs, and Elizabeth Herman who connected for 14 kills and tallied six total blocks.
Defensively, Ryanne Milligan led the way for the Herd with 19 digs, while Dorothy Rahal chipped in with 12.
Houston (19-10, 13-4 C-USA) recorded four players with double-digit kill performances, led by Chandace Tryon's 15.
"I can say we put up a great fight today against a talented Houston team," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "We are once again believing in ourselves and it was a fun weekend."
MU trailed two sets to one, heading into an important fourth frame with the Cougars. The Herd was able to send the match to a fifth and deciding set, thanks to an explosive .462 attacking clip. Jacobs' squad put away 20 kills on 39 attacks with two errors in the fourth. The set featured 10 ties and four lead changes.
In the fifth stanza, MU struggled to find the same offensive rhythm that was utilized in the previous set. The Herd tallied seven kills, but also recorded seven errors on 22 swings as UH captured the set (15-8) and the match.
UP NEXT FOR THE HERD: Marshall hosts Tulane on Fri., Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.
