Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball Closes Regular Season at WKU, Middle Tennessee
11/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall volleyball closes its regular-season schedule on the road at WKU on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET and on Saturday at Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m. ET.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Last time out, sophomore Taylor Pelton (Louisville, Ky.) led the way for the Herd with 10 kills on 16 attacks and one error for an impressive .562 hitting efficiency. This season, Pelton is third on the team in kills with 293.
Setter Kayla Simmons (Gainesville, Fla.) is two assists away from her first 1,000-assist season in her career. Simmons averages 9.33 assists per set, good for sixth in all matches in Conference USA. The sophomore will become the third setter from C-USA to go over 1,000 assists.
CAN YOU DIG IT?
Allie Kellerman (Louisville, Ky.) has already had a standout season, reaching the Marshall record book for single-match digs. She has the Nos. 2 and 9 performances in Herd history. Kellerman has the chance to put her name in two more categories at the end the season, with her digs total and digs per set. The junior libero has 513 digs this season, 17 shy of the all-time season record. Kellerman currently has 4.71 digs per set, first in a single season by a 0.26 margin.
POSTSEASON SCENARIO
With the Conference USA schedule coming to a close and six teams already clinching a berth in the eight-team postseason tournament, Marshall is tied with Middle Tennessee for the final spot. FIU holds the seventh seed with a 7-7 C-USA record. For the Herd to make the tournament, Marshall will need to win both games this week or split the week, but win at Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
SCOUTING THE LADY TOPPERS
Sitting atop of the C-USA standings is No. 24 WKU with a 26-3 record (13-1 C-USA). The Lady Toppers only loss in conference came at Rice in five sets. Marshall and WKU met earlier this season with the 'Toppers winning in four sets, one of six matches in conference that WKU has played that went longer than three sets.
The Lady 'Toppers are led by Alyssa Cavanaugh and Noelle Langenkamp on offense, with 336 and 311 kills, respectively. Assisting the duo is Jessica Lucas with 1,132 assists. On defense, Langenkamp leads the team with 88 blocks, while Georgia O'Connell has a team-high 393 digs.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Prior to Saturday's match against the Herd, Middle Tennessee will travel to North Texas on Thursday. The Blue Raiders are 8-20 (6-8 C-USA). Marshall and Middle Tennessee played earlier this season, as the Herd walked away with a four-set win.
Middle Tennessee has three players with 100 sets played this year. Chelsea Ross leads the Blue Raiders with 477 kills, while Miri Shade is second on the team in kills with 292. Rachel Shaughnessy rounds out the trio, with a team high 92 blocks.
