Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball to 'Fight Like Hal' This Weekend
9/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va.--Marshall volleyball (6-9, 1-0 C-USA) begins its home conference play on Friday, Sept. 26 when the Herd hosts Middle Tennessee (4-9) and continues with a Sunday matchup with Florida International (3-11, 0-1 C-USA). Marshall is coming off winning its sixth consecutive Conference USA opener on Tuesday. The Herd defeated Charlotte in a comeback 3-2 victory.
The weekend will be the second annual `Fight Like Hal' Weekend, which pays tribute to late UAB coach Hal Messersmith, who passed away from cancer last year. The Herd will wear purple jerseys in honor of Messersmith, and the jerseys will be auctioned during a special silent auction during both matches. A minimum of $50 per bid will be accepted. To place a bid or for more information please contact Aimee Pham at pham38@marshall.edu
"We are excited to come home and maintain our momentum," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "I like the idea of doing the purple match, so we can raise awareness for all types of cancer. Cancer research needs a boost in all areas; a lot of people do the breast cancer game in October, and that's an incredible cause. But we've just taken these last two years and just decided to raise awareness for all cancers and honor our colleague Hal and work to help fund research for this terrible illness."
Fans with an all-access pass can view the game via the live-streaming links provided, and anyone can follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter for in-game updates. Live stats can be found in the links provided.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Sophomore Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) is coming off a personal season-high performance of 17 kills in the Charlotte match. The middle blocker is second on the team with 138 kills.
Fellow sophomore Cassie Weaver (Huntington) leads the squad with 144 kills, and currently has her six double-doubles after collecting 12 digs against the 49ers.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee is led by Murfreesboro native Chelsea Ross. The junior outside hitter has a team-high 192 kills, averaging 5.05 kills per set (second in C-USA). Sophomore Jazmyne Johnson follows closely with 129 kills.
The Raiders net game is controlled by senior middle blocker Monet Marshall, who leads C-USA with 1.57 blocks per set (47 total blocks), and junior Rachel Shaughnessy, who closely follows with 1.42 blocks per set and 54 total on the season. Johnson closes out the top three with 1.37 blocks per set, and 52 total.
The Raiders and the Herd have faced three common opponents this season- Middle Tennessee fell to Southern Illinois 3-1, Kansas State 3-0, and Virginia Tech 3-0.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU comes to Huntington already with a conference match on its record. The Panthers fell to local rival Florida Atlantic 3-1.
FIU's leaders are junior outside hitter Lucia Castro (163 kills) and junior middle blocker Gloria Levorin, who has 50 total blocks.
The Panthers and the Herd have both faced Eastern Kentucky this season- FIU was defeated 3-0 in the match.
WE MEET AGAIN
The Herd finished its regular season in 2013 taking down the Raiders 3-2 in a thrilling battle. Then-freshman Elyse Panick (Chicago) collected 14 kills and then-junior Sammie Bane (Brownstown, Ind.) had 56 assists in the contest.
Last season, Marshall defeated FIU in straight sets. Then-sophomore Jillian Shemanski (Jupiter, Fla.) collected five total blocks during the match.
