Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball to Play in Saluki Invitational
9/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Live Stats
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- After two wins last weekend in the Chippewa Challenge, Marshall volleyball (3-4) heads to Carbondale, Ill., for the Saluki Invitational, hosted by Southern Illinois.
The Herd will also face teams from Kansas State and IPFW during the tournament. All matches will be held in Davies Gym. Fans can follow the @HerdVolleyball Twitter account for in-game updates and the links provided for live stats.
Marshall will start off the weekend facing Kansas State at noon Friday,before facing IPFW at 6 p.m. that evening. The road trip will conclude with the Herd taking on Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. Saturday.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Senior setter Sammie Bane (Brownstown, Ind.) and junior outside hitter/middle blocker Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) were named to the All-Chippewa Challenge team. Bane averaged 7.64 assists per set, collecting 84 on the weekend. Legge recorded 27 kills during the tournament, also posting 11 total blocks.
Sophomore Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) leads the Herd with 70 kills and junior Jillian Shemanski (Jupiter, Fla.) has 28 total blocks to lead Marshall defensively.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Kansas State enters Carbondale with the best record at 6-1, coming off a battling 3-2 victory over Missouri State on Monday evening. The Wildcats have won 12 straight five-set matches, dating back to November of 2011.
Freshman Kylee Zumach leads the squad with 73 kills, averaging 3.17 per set. Redshirt sophomore Katie Reininger leads K-State defensively, with 28 total blocks.
To begin its 2014 season, the Wildcats swept Green Bay 3-0, which Marshall defeated in four sets.
SCOUTING THE MASTADONS
IPFW brings a 5-2 record to the Saluki Invitational, led by senior outside hitter Emily Spencer with 112 kills. Redshirt junior Hailie Ripley has a team-high 24 total blocks to aid the Mastadons' net game.
IPFW and the Herd have has faced two common opponents this season, falling in straight sets to both Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Michigan.
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS
Southern Illinois enters the tournament with a 2-5 record, defeating Auburn in straight sets and Conference USA member Middle Tennessee 3-1. The Salukis have lost to two nationally ranked teams in No. 20 North Carolina (3-0) and No. 11 Illinois (3-0).
Redshirt freshman Andrea Estrada leads the Salukis with 69 kills and sophomore McKenzie Dorris is at the top of the Southern Illinois defensive front with 23 total blocks.
WE MEET AGAIN
This will be the first meeting for Marshall and K-State. The Herd last faced IPFW in 2004, defeating the Mastadons 3-1. Marshall faced the Salukis during the 2013 Thunder Invitational, winning 3-0.
Bane collected four service aces and 20 assists during the match and then freshman Elyse Panick (Chicago) recorded a match-high eight kills during the contest. The Salukis were paced by now junior Taylor Pippen (All-MVC First Team honors last season), who achieved six kills during the match.
UP NEXT
Marshall will host its first dual match of the season, welcoming border rival Morehead State to Huntington on Sept. 16 for an 11:30 a.m. start.
