Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rice
Marshall Beats Rice in Thrilling 3-2 Win
11/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HOUSTON - Marshall volleyball increased its seeding possibilities in the Conference USA Tournament with a thrilling five-set win over Rice on Thursday. The Herd won 3-2, after winning the first set 25-17, the third set 25-20, and final set 15-13. Marshall fell in sets two and four by scores of 25-21 and 25-12.
The Herd improved to 15-15 (9-6 in C-USA), while Rice slipped to 21-8 (11-4).
Sophomore Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) led the Herd attack, posting a personal season high 19 kills to accompany a .581 hitting percentage. Junior Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) continued her offensive rampage, collecting 18 kills and bringing her match double-digit kill tally to eight of the last nine.
Sophomores Elyse Panick (Chicago) and Cassie Weaver (Huntington, W.Va.) each turned in a double-double performance. Panick registered 11 slams and 15 digs and Weaver recorded 11 kills and 17 digs. This makes Panick's seventh double-double and Weaver's ninth.
Classmate Allie Kellerman (Louisville, Ky.) recorded a career high 25 digs during the contest.
"I'm very proud of our energy tonight to finish," head coach Mitch Jacobs said, "especially after the way they took it to us in set four. Elyse [Panick] is really coming on as of late, and the way Cassie [Weaver] started this match and then finished after sets 3 & 4 shows some maturity."
"Kiko [Kiekover] and Lauren [Legge] were tough throughout," Jacobs continued, "and I thought Justice [Craft] kept her mind in the match very well against one of, if not the very best, middles in our league. Excellent team effort and a great match tonight."
In the opening stanza, the Herd quickly gained control of the set, going up by three points and increasing its lead during a five-point rally to 17-12. Marshall maintained control, taking eight of 11 total points in that sequence, and then turned in another four-point rally to arrive at set point, and then a Kiekover kill delivered the Herd a 25-17 game win.
Marshall began set two winning the opening point, and then falling behind to the Owls. After trailing by as many as four points, the Herd pounded out five straight points, including three kills from Legge, to snatch the lead back.
Rice then turned in its own 4-0 run to regain game control, and remained in the lead for the duration of the set-despite Marshall pressuring with four straight points to cut the Owl lead down to two- with a 25-21 score.
With the match tied at one set apiece, Marshall was a team on a mission, exploding out of intermission and taking charge of the third game. The Herd began in the lead and continued to add insurance, going up by as many as five points in the frame and grabbing the set 25-20.
The Owls sought revenge in game four, limiting Marshall to 12 points, to win 25-12 and force a fifth set.
In the final stanza, Marshall poured on the intensity, leading to a thrilling 15-13 victory and match win 3-2. The Herd battled back from a two-point deficit to take the crown.
Marshall will conclude its 2014 regular season in Birmingham, Ala., facing UAB on Sunday, Nov. 16.
The Herd will play in the C-USA Tournament (hosted by Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss.) for the third consecutive year, but seeding, opponent, and time have yet to be determined.
