Marshall University Athletics
Volleyball Set to Host the 2011 Thunder Invitational Tournament
9/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 15, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.VA. - Marshall Volleyball plays host to their first volleyball tournament of the 2011 season and will be facing competition against Central Michigan, George Mason and conference rivals, East Carolina. The two day tournament will feature a Friday match against ECU at 7:00 p.m. and a 12:30 p.m. match against George Mason on Saturday. The Herd will close with Central Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening.
The Herd enters the Thunder Invitational with a 1-7 record after playing in eight straight road matches in a combination of three tournaments, including the Morehead State Tournament, IUPUI Tournament and the Ohio Tournament. Marshall faced heavy competition on the road, playing against Virginia, Ohio, No. 24 Michigan, and the Big East favorites, Louisville. The Herd's one win was a 3-0 victory against Stetson.
Marshall will finally get the opportunity to play in the Henderson Center for the first time this season. The first home match of the season will also be the conference opener as the Herd face the ECU Pirates. Marshall leads the all-time series against the Pirates, 11-2, and has never lost to ECU on their home court.
"They have already won more games than they did last year and they are big," remarked Coach Jacobs about the Pirates. "They block well. We have got to get by the block. They have one kid, who's 5'6 on the court and jumps out of the gym and everyone else they have is 6'0-6'3. They can play the game."
East Carolina enters the tournament with a 2-5 record after earning wins against Gardner-Webb and UNC-Wilmington. The match will be the conference opener for both squads. The Pirates' Britany Roper leads the team in kills with 81 and in kills per set with a 3.12 average. ECU's setter, Kasey Kavanaugh, has totaled 154 assists on the season and middle-hitters, Jackie Varnum and Kelly Derby, share the top spot in total blocks with 28. Defensive Specialist, Shelby Beasley, accounts for nearly a third of the Pirates' digs with 106.
"Our main focus is on East Carolina," continued Jacobs. "It's conference and it matters. We have our break down ready."
Central Michigan will come into the tournament with the best overall record of the four teams with a 4-4 mark. They most recently grabbed two wins in the Butler Tournament after beating Austin Peay and tournament host, Butler. Kaitlyn McIntyre has the most kills on the team with 85 and is the most targeted hitter with 240 total attacks. The Chippewas are led at the net by Danielle Gotham with 36 total blocks, while Jenna Coates has recorded 120 digs on defense. CMU setter, Kelly Maxwell, totals 204 assists on the year.
George Mason has a 3-6 record on the year. The Patriots are led in kills by sophomore outside-hitter Lana Zonjic with 95 kills and is closely followed by senior OH, Noelle Fanella, with 84. Zonjic also boasts a team-high 3.17 kills per set average. George Mason's primary setter, Tori Price, has recorded 270 assists and senior middle-blocker, Kelsey Bohman, has a team-leading 41 total blocks.
All matches can be followed through LiveStats, located on the Tournament Central page at the link, http://herdzone.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/2011-thunder-invitational.html . You can also follow the Herd through WMUL radio at www.marshall.edu/wmul. Tickets will be $5 for adult and $3 for children.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, September 16th
4:30pm Central Michigan vs. George Mason
7:00pm Marshall vs. ECU
Saturday, September 17th
10:30am ECU vs. Central Michigan
12:30pm Marshall vs. George Mason
5:30pm George Mason vs. ECU
7:30pm Marshall vs. Central Michigan
Teams in BOLD will be considered the Home Team and will follow Home Team protocol.
www.herdzone.com
