Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
Comeback Brings @HerdVolleyball 3-2 Win
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.-- Marshall volleyball (6-9) won its sixth consecutive Conference USA opener as the Herd delivered a 3-2 comeback over the Charlotte 49ers (11-7) in North Carolina Tuesday.
After falling in the first two sets 25-19, 25-16, Marshall returned with fire, winning games three and four 25-19, 25-23 and deciding set 19-17.
Sophomore Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) turned in a personal season-high of 17 kills (.389 hitting percentage), while fellow second-years Elyse Panick (Chicago) and Cassie Weaver (Huntington) notched 12 and 10, respectively. Both Panick and Weaver turned in a double-double, as the two picked up 20 and 12 digs, respectively. Weaver now has six double-double matches on the season.
Senior Sammie Bane (Brownstown, Ind.) recorded 41 assists in the contest, also turning in 14 digs.
"We made some adjustments between sets two and three, and really came out with a new level of energy," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "Our girls really picked up our service game and I think that was huge. They are really big in the middle and we needed to get them off the net."
"Kiko [Kiekover] had an amazing last three sets offensively," Jacobs continued. "Her motor is amazing and she never gets tired. We were able to feed off that. Sammie [Bane] kept everyone calm and allowed us to keep clawing our way back from deficits in sets four and five. You just can't put a figure on her importance."
The Herd began its conference debut trailing the 49ers, falling behind by as many as seven points in the opening set before falling 25-19.
Marshall started hot in the second stanza, taking the first three points of the set. Charlotte climbed its way back to take the lead, before Weaver slammed back-to-back kills to tie the set at 10 all. The 49ers continued to apply pressure, stealing the lead back once more and taking the set 25-16.
With Charlotte leading the match 2-0, the Herd came out of intermission picking up the first point of game 3 with by junior Jillian Shemanski (Jupiter, Fla.). After two 49ers points, Marshall went on a four point run and continued to keep pace, remaining ahead of the 49ers until a Herd miscue gave Charlotte the brief lead. Marshall replied with five straight points, including back-to-back service aces from Panick and back-to-back kills from Weaver.
The Herd continued to control the game, winning twelve of the last seventeen points and picking up the set 25-19.
Marshall kept the momentum to start game 4, taking the first eight of eleven points. The 49ers inched back into the set, tying the score and taking their first lead 18 points into the game.
The Herd reclaimed its lead in dramatic fashion, going on a four point rally. The rally included another set of back-to-back service aces and a kill from Panick as Marshall took the set 25-23 and forced a deciding game 5.
With the stakes high and match tied at two sets apiece, the Herd started behind, trailing by two at the side change. The Herd then won five straight points, and a battle proceeded, as the two squads went through four ties from the initial match point before a match-ending block from the junior duo of Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) and Shemanski delivered the 19-17 victory.
"You also have to really credit Lauren [Legge]," Jacobs finished. "She's under the weather, really struggled early, but when we absolutely had to have her on the court she gave us a couple huge kills, and of course the game-winning block. That's the kind of toughness we need, night in and night out."
Marshall returns to Huntington, as the Herd welcomes Middle Tennessee and FIU to the Henderson Center for weekend matchups on Friday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 28.
