Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball Takes Panthers Invitational Title On Saturday
9/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HIGH POINT, N.C. - Marshall volleyball won the Panthers Invitational after it split day two by defeating the host school High Point, 3-2, and then falling to Davidson by the same score on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Junior Allie Kellerman (Louisville, Ky.) was named the Panthers Invitational MVP, while junior Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Taylor Pelton (Louisville, Ky.) were named to the all-tournament team. Kellerman finished the tournament with 93 digs, including a season high 36 against Davidson. `Kiko' wrapped up with 41 kills on 82 attacks and just six errors for a .427 hit percentage. She also recorded a total of six blocks. Pelton ended with 47 kills, 12 digs and eight total blocks. The sophomore averaged 3.36 kills per set.
The Herd moves to 8-2, while High Point falls to 5-5 and Davidson goes to 4-6.
MARSHALL AT HIGH POINT (25-18, 25-23, 21-25, 17-25, 15-10)
Marshall and High Point were neck-and-neck to begin the first set of the match, as neither team would gain ground early. The Herd finally saw separation from the Panthers after the scoring being tied at eight. Marshall took the next five available points, including a huge attack error by High Point that was forced by a diving dig from Kellerman and a block from Pelton and senior Ashley Arnold (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). After High Point halted the Herd run with two points of its own, Marshall was saved again by a Kellerman dig that allowed Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) to record the kill to push the score to 15-10. The Herd continued to extend its lead as it held a 21-13 lead after a Pelton kill. High Point rallied and brought the set within four points, but Marshall earned the last three points of the set by two High Point errors and a Legge kill. Kellerman finished the set with 10 digs, while Legge and Pelton each had a set high three kills. Arnold had three block assists.
In set two, Marshall took an early 6-3 lead off kills by Cassie Weaver (Huntington, W.Va.) and Pelton. Once the Herd held the advantage, they never lost control of it. Marshall was tied at 13, but MU went on to score the next four points, including an ace by Kayla Simmons (Gainesville, Fla.). The Herd's defense played a vital role once again in pushing the lead to 21-17 as it forced three attack errors in a row with two block assists from freshman Shelby Conley (Paintsville, Ky.), Kiekover and Arnold. High Point made the set interesting as it fought back and tied it up at 22. Marshall gained its composure and went on and claimed the final three out of four points to win set two, by a score of 25-23.
With its back up against the wall, High Point battled throughout the third and fourth set to control the tempo. The Panthers and Herd went back and forth in the third, but High Point's will to extend the match was too strong for Marshall. After winning the third set, HPU dominated in the fourth set en route to an eight point margin victory.
The Herd weren't going to just roll over after giving up two straight sets. Marshall continued to keep pace with the Panthers and eventually took a 6-2 lead in the final set. Despite High Point tying the set at six, Marshall went on a five point run, including kills from Simmons, Taylor Riedel (Huntington, W.Va.), Legge and Weaver. The five point lead was enough for the Herd to hold off the Panthers as it went on to win the set, 15-10.
The Marshall defense came up huge in Saturday's match with seven team blocks and forced 30 attack errors on High Point. Arnold led the way with five blocks, while Kiekover, Pelton and Conley each had two total blocks. Pelton led the Thundering herd with 17 kills. Weaver recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 24 digs. Kellerman set a new season high in digs with 33.
MARSHALL VS. DAVIDSON (22-25, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-7)
The Herd started the match against Davidson strong with a 4-1 edge, but the Wildcats clawed their way back and forced a back-and-forth affair as neither team could build a sizeable lead. It wasn't until a tied game at 14 when Davidson started to push away after they forced two attack errors on the Herd and had two kills for itself. The four point lead proved to be too much for Herd as it never overcame the disadvantage. Marshall brought the score within one at the 22-21 mark, but the `Cats scored the next three out of four points to earn the first set win. Pelton finished the set with an impressive eight kills, while Simmons dealt 15 assists.
Very similar to the first set, the second was closely contested throughout the beginning as the largest lead held by a team was two points. After a tied set at 11, Davidson went on a four point run off three kills and an attack error. Marshall didn't go away and eventually tied the set up at 17. Again, the Wildcats found a way to give themselves the lead and a three point margin. The Herd rallied, which forced a timeout by Davidson after kills from Legge and Weaver to pull MU within one. Coming out of the break, Davidson scored the next two points to win the set, 25-22.
Down two sets to zero, Marshall came out in the third set focused and put itself up early, 10-5, off a kill by Lauren Mattmuller (Venice, Fla.) and two aces by Simmons. Davidson attempted a comeback as it brought the score within one, but Marshall quickly responded and extended its lead to six, which included kills from Legge and Kiekover. After the Herd took a six point lead, the closest the `Cats got within was five points. Marshall forced a fourth set as it went on to win the set, 25-18.
In the fourth set, both teams were battling as Davidson was looking to close out the match and Marshall was hoping to extend it. The two teams traded blows throughout most of the set. It wasn't until the 21-16 mark till a team had a lead larger than four. The Wildcats kept poking away and eventually tied the set up when Marshall was on set point. With the score tied at 24, the Thundering Herd went on to score the next two points to force fifth set.
The Herd's comeback was halted in the fifth set. Davidson dropped the first point of the set, but then quickly grabbed the next three. The Wildcats then leaped out to a commanding lead at 10-4. Marshall suffered three attack errors in the final seven plays, which resulted in the Davidson winning the tie-breaking set, 15-7, and the match, 3-2.
Four members of the Herd had double-digit kills, including Kiekover, who led the team with 18. The junior from Grand Rapids, Mich. had a team high .385 hit percentage. Weaver had her second match in a row with a double-double, as she had 15 kills and 13 digs. Pelton and Legge finished with 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Simmons set a career high in assists with 57. Kellerman finished the match with a new season high 36 digs.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes from coach Mitch Jacobs
On the High Point match:
"High Point is a really good in the serve and pass game. They stressed us from the middle of set two all the way through the finish. How we dealt with their pressure was the difference in the sets. We didn't play very clean until set five and you have to credit High Point's pressure from the service line and their defense with our up and down play."
"With that said, I was extremely proud of the way we started the match. And then, with set four about out of reach we really dug deep and shifted the momentum our way. Even though we lost set four, we felt good going into set five."
On Allie Kellerman's play and the Herd's defense against High Point:
"Allie Kellerman was amazing defensively and our team through the first half of the match and then again in the end of played fantastic on the defensive side of the ball. We are going to have to sure up our ball control though if we are going to challenge in Conference USA."
On the Davidson match:
"Kind of a bittersweet day. We couldn't get a real flow going yet we kept fighting and fighting to stay alive. This evening's match was a carbon copy of our earlier match, but in reverse. Davidson lost set four but regained the momentum going into set five and we just couldn't get it back."
"Tonight we just got beat. No other way to put it, but like I told the team after the match, I was so proud at our effort level throughout this tournament and it really showed in the amount of balls we kept off the floor."
On the tournament win:
"We had some great performances throughout the weekend and it's great to get our second tourney win of this preseason."
On Kellerman, Kiekover, Pelton, Weaver and Riedel's performance throughout the tourney:
"Allie Kellerman was amazing throughout. She just keeps getting better and better. `Kiko' stayed steady throughout and is just a tireless worker. Taylor Pelton and Cassie Weaver did a solid job all weekend and Taylor Riedel was the best I've ever seen her play. She continued her great play from the Boston College match and is making a big influence."
On Kayla Simmons' performance:
"Kayla is starting to see more things that she's capable of running and I feel she's doing a solid job."
Looking forward to West Virginia:
"Of course now we turn our attention to the school up north and see if we can't execute a little better and give them a great match."
UP NEXT
The Herd will travel to in-state rival West Virginia on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
