Marshall University Athletics
Herd Volleyball Travels to Memphis Friday; Hosts UAB Sunday
9/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University volleyball team is back in action with a pair of marquee matchups in Conference USA action this weekend. The Thundering Herd first makes a trip to Memphis for a Friday night match at 8 p.m. EST, followed up by inviting UAB to the Cam Henderson Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
Look Back on Last Week
The Thundering Herd is coming off a pair of 3-0 sweeps against the UCF Knights in the opening weekend of league play. During the two-match series with the Knights, Elizabeth Herman proved to be a vital offensive weapon. The Dunwoody, Ga., product recorded a team-best 23 kills over six sets for a 3.83 spikes per frame average. She also registered a strong attacking percentage of .380 (23K-4E-50TA).
Setter Elizabeth Fleming posted a pair of 30+ assist outings, averaging 11 helpers per set to propel the Herd to a perfect 2-0 in the conference. The senior posted an impressive stat line against UCF in the second match, nearly recording her second career triple-double. Fleming finished with a match-high 36 assists along with seven kills and seven digs on the evening.
Marshall Scouting Report
After a standout opening C-USA weekend with two victories, the Thundering Herd sits at 8-6 overall and holds a perfect 2-0 in league play. MU has won three-straight matches and six of its last eight on the year.
The Herd owns an 8-2 tally against Memphis all-time and is 5-6 against UAB.
MU ranks fifth in a trio of C-USA statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.217), blocks (1.82) and service aces (1.25). Among the individual stat leaders in league action, the Herd boasts three players in the top-20 in Laura Der (3.24; 12th), Dorothy Rahal (3.02; 15th) and Katy Schad (2.91; 16th).
Player to Watch: Kelley Bugler, MB
The junior is hitting .308 over her last five matches and is averaging a shade under two kills per set (1.92) on the season. Last year against Memphis (10/11/09), Bugler posted a career-high seven blocks assists in a three-set sweep.
Memphis Scouting Report
The Tigers dropped both meetings against Tulsa last week, as Memphis stands at 9-5 in 2010. Sophomore Altrese Hawkins is the top offensive attacker for the Tigers, as the outside hitter ranks sixth in the conference in kills/set (3.69).
MU will need to have a strong defensive performance as Memphis is first in the C-USA and ninth out of all Division I NCAA clubs at 1.96 aces/set. Four Tigers rank in the top-10 in aces/set in C-USA, led by league-leader Vesna Jelic.
Player to Watch: Marija Jovanovic, OH
Ranks second on the team in spikes per frame (2.98) and tallied 18 kills in a match against Tulsa (9/26).
UAB Scouting Report
The Blazers rank second in the conference in digs/set (17.08) and own a 3-11overall record. UAB was swept by SMU in both meeting last weekend to fall to 0-2 in the league standings. Jordan McDonald is 13th in kills/set in C-USA at 2.92.
Player to Watch: Heather Thomas, L
The junior plays a major factor for the UAB defense, averaging 5.48 digs/set, good for second in C-USA.
GameTracker can be viewed for both matches at HerdZone.com. The home match against UAB will also feature a live radio broadcast from the Marshall student radio station, WMUL, that can be listened to by checking out the MU volleyball schedule page.
