Marshall University Athletics
Volleyball Prepares for Two Conference Match-Ups
10/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 27, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.VA. - The Marshall volleyball team returns to the Henderson Center this weekend to face off against conference foes, Southern Miss and Tulane. The first match against Southern Miss is slated for tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. and the Tulane contest will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The Herd have already faced off against both Southern Miss and Tulane earlier in the season. Marshall beat Tulane 3-1 earlier in the month, but lost to Southern Miss on the same weekend, 3-0.
Marshall (5-16, 4-7 C-USA) enters the weekend hot off a 3-2 showdown against SMU. The match marked the first time the Herd had gone to five sets on the season. Desirre Wilkerson recorded a career high 16 kills and also posted six blocks (1 solo, 5 assists). Sammie Bane finished with a career-high 56 assists and 20 digs to help push the Herd for the victory. Bane combined for her sixth double-double of the season after her effort against SMU.
The first opponent of the weekend, Southern Miss (11-12, 5-6 C-USA), knocked off UCF (3-2) and UTEP (3-0) this past weekend, while taking a loss to UTEP (3-0). The Golden Eagles swept the Conference USA weekly awards for their outstanding performances in the matches. USM outside hitter, Ashley Mell, combined for 55 kills in the three matches, while libero Lisa Knecht averaged a league best 6.18 digs and setter Kelsea Seymour finished the week averaging a C-USA weekly-best 14.00 assists per set.
Tulane (8-14, 3-8 C-USA) sits one spot below Marshall in the conference standings after finishing this past weekend with a win over Southern Miss (3-0) and taking losses to UCF (3-0) and UTEP (3-2). The Green Wave are led by sophomore Cori Martone, who is the front-runner of the Tulane attack and enters the weekend with 228 kills. The Baton Rouge, La. native ranks second on the team in total blocks (60) and service aces (18), while ranking fourth in digs (77) and assists (23). Of her 228 kills, 128 of those have come in Conference USA play and her 3.05 kills per-set average ranks 13th among her conference constituents.
Both contests will be available through free livestream video, GameTracker livestats and WMUL's online radio broadcast. Each product is available through Marshall's athletic website, www.herdzone.com.
