Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Illinois
@HerdVolleyball Falls 3-1 to Southern Illinois
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Marshall-SIU Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.-Marshall volleyball fell in the final day of the Saluki Invitational, dropping a 3-1 set to Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill.
The Herd won the first game 25-19, but failed to take the match after falling 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 to Southern Illinois.
Sophomore opposite hitter Elyse Panick (Chicago) was awarded all-tournament honors. She collected 10 kills and a service ace in the match against the Salukis, and had 21 kills on the weekend with six total blocks.
"We started on fire today," head coach Mitch Jacobs said, "but had a difficult time sustaining our focus. I believe we can sustain longer in sets, but it's going to have to be a very committed endeavor by this group. I know they are getting frustrated playing so well one minute, and so poorly the next. I believe we are close."
Marshall started with the match advantage, picking up the first set with a 25-19 victory. The Herd took charge early, taking three straight points for a 7-4 lead. The Salukis climbed back, keeping within two points until an SIU timeout brought momentum back to the Herd.
Marshall won seven of the next 10 points, going up 17-11. In that sequence, junior Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) and Panick each slammed two kills.
The Salukis cut the lead again, this time narrowing the margin to three when a Herd attack error brought the score to 20-17. Marshall quickly regained control, picking up the next four points off a kill by Legge, a SIU error, a kill by Panick, and kill by j.unior middle blocker Jillian Shemanski (Jupiter, Fla.)
Southern Illinois teased Marshall, picking up two points before the Herd closed the deal with a 25-19 victory.
The Herd battled in its second set, falling short at 25-23. Marshall grabbed the first six of seven points of the game before a five point rally from the Salukis. The set remained tight, seeing nine ties in the contest as the Herd and Southern Illinois stayed within three points of each other the remainder of the set.
With both teams boasting a set apiece, a battle ensued in the third game. Marshall snatched the first point before Southern Illinois stole the lead and remained on top until the Herd went up 13-12.
A Saluki kill quickly retied the score, and SIU regained control of the set once more as the squad grabbed its biggest lead of the game at 21-15.
Marshall picked up a point from a Legge kill before SIU fired back two points to add insurance. A five point rally from the Herd intensified the set, as Legge collected two more kills in the run and put Marshall within two at 23-21, before falling short 25-23 in the third set. The game also saw a total of nine tied scores.
With the Salukis favoring a 2-1 advantage, Southern Illinois picked up the first three points of the fourth set. The Herd replied with two quick points, before SIU took an 8-2 lead on the next five plays. Marshall would end up falling 25-15 in the fourth set, as the Salukis took the match 3-1.
Legge finished the match with 11 kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Shemanski also collected 11 kills, with a .479 hitting efficiency.
The Herd returns to Huntington for a Tuesday morning matchup against border rival Morehead State. The match is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
