Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Green Bay
Volleyball Splits the Day at Chippewa Challenge
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Marshall-Butler Final | Marshall-Green Bay Final
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall volleyball split the day Saturday, falling in straight sets to Butler but also picking up its third win of the season against Green Bay in the final day of the Chippewa Challenge in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
The Herd improved to 3-4 after the victory over Green Bay.
Senior Sammie Bane (Brownstown, Ind.) and junior Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) were named to the all-tournament team; Bane averaged 7.64 assists per set, collecting 84 on the weekend and Legge recorded 27 kills during the tournament, also posting 11 total blocks.
In the first match of the day, the Herd fell by scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-17 to the Bulldogs.
The offensive force was led by freshman Taylor Pelton (Louisville, Ky.), who started her first match of the season for the Herd. The outside hitter picked up eight kills and recorded a .353 hitting percentage.
In the evening contest with Green Bay, Marshall defeated the Phoenix 3-1 after set scores of 25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 30-28.
Sophomore Elyse Panick (Chicago) paced the Herd with 15 kills and 11 digs, boasting a .333 hitting efficiency. Sophomore Cassie Weaver (Huntington, W.Va.) followed suit with 14 kills and 22 digs, her third double-double of the season.
In the first set between Green Bay and Marshall, the squads went through 14 tied scores. With the score at 20 all, the Herd began to gain momentum off back-to-back kills from Panick and move ahead of the Phoenix at 22-20.
After a timeout and two point run from Green Bay, Marshall regained the lead off yet another kill by Panick. Marshall took the set 25-23.
In the final game of the match, Marshall battled back and forth, going through 13 ties and eight lead changes. Weaver pounded out a deciding kill for the Herd to take the set 30-28 and the match 3-1.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes by head coach Mitch Jacobs:
On Sammie Bane being named to the all-tournament team
"Sammie continues to lead this group and really understands how to take the reigns when we need it most. Being in a 6-2, she has show the most unselfish behavior I've ever witnessed in a player. And, as we needed this road trip, she easily switches back to the 5-1 and shows everyone how to truly compete."
On Lauren Legge's all-tournament honors
"Lauren played the best volleyball of her career this weekend. She is driving to the ball very strong offensively, but last night against Central, she changed the match with her defense at the net."
On the Butler match:
"We really struggled with unforced errors in the morning match and I feel we really threw away the opportunity to compete against Butler. They are so good in the fundamental skills of the game that we had to maintain focus and didn't do a very good job."
On the victory against Green Bay:
"We really rebounded well with an awesome level of energy and desire to compete. I'm still very concerned with our unforced errors, but we were able to make the quality plays in the end when needed. Our ball control hung tough and we served at a level to keep Green Bay out of system enough to assist our defense. I also really like that we got another very balanced effort offensively, as we did last night against Central Michigan."
