Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball Heads To Florida For Conference Weekend
10/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MATCH 1: MARSHALL (11-5, 2-1 C-USA) AT FIU (8-6, 2-2 C-USA)
Friday, Oct. 2 | 7 p.m. ET
Miami, Fla. | FIU Arena
Live Stats | Video | Twitter
MATCH 2: MARSHALL (11-5, 2-1 C-USA) AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (9-6, 1-2 C-USA)
Sunday, Oct. 4 | Noon ET
Boca Raton, Fla. | FAU Arena
| Video | Twitter
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall volleyball looks to keep momentum after winning its last two matches, as it heads to the Sunshine State for a conference weekend swing against FIU on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Florida Atlantic on Sunday at noon.
LAST TIME OUT
The Herd is coming off a week in which it won two of three to begin Conference USA play, including wins against Charlotte and Louisiana Tech. After dropping its first match to WKU on Wednesday, Marshall came out strong. The Herd rallied against 49ers to win in five sets, while MU swept Louisiana Tech, 3-0.
On Sunday, coach Mitch Jacobs earned his 250th win with the Thundering Herd.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall enters this weekend with four members among the top 50 statistically in Division I (as of Sept. 27). Offensively, the Herd is led by Cassie Weaver (Huntington, W.Va.), who ranks 31st in total attacks (623) and 47th in total kills (215). Sophomore setter Kayla Simmons sits at 29th with 615 assists, while junior Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) is 48th in hit percentage with .389. Defensively, junior libero Allie Kellerman (Louisville, Ky.) ranks 16th in total digs with 309.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Coach Jacobs is three Conference USA wins shy of 100.
- Kellerman is 72 digs away from 1,000 career digs.
- Kiekover is three kills away from 750.
- Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) needs six blocks for a career total of 200.
- Weaver is 11 digs shy of 700 in her career
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU enters Friday's match with an 8-6 record (2-2 C-USA). The Panthers won their first C-USA matches against UAB and FAU, but fell to Rice and WKU this past weekend.
The Panthers are led offensively by Lucia Castro, who has 164 kills with a .222 hit percentage. Her kill total is 71 more than the closest team with 93 kills. Katie Friesen has a team high 367 assists.
Friday will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs. Marshall has won the last two meetings, both in three sets.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
On Sunday, FAU comes into the match against the Herd with a 9-6 overall record (1-2 C-USA). The Owls' lone win in C-USA came over the weekend at Southern Miss, in four sets.
The Owls' have four players with more than 100 kills on the season. They are led by Maja Ristic with 189, followed by Brittney Brown, Kristin Rankovic and Gabriela Martin with 150, 139 and 116, respectively.
Marshall is 3-0 all-time against Florida Atlantic. The two teams first met in 1998, while the last two meetings came over the last two seasons.
#BEHERD
Stay up-to-date on all things Herd volleyball via social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat (username: HerdZone).
UP NEXT
The Herd will return home for a Friday matinee (Oct. 9) against UAB at 11:30 a.m. Huntington schools are invited to Marshall volleyball's annual Education and Field Trip Day. This year's theme is Anti-Bullying and will include an educational presentation and awareness for students following the game. Admission is free for all.
