Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball Split On Friday
9/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Final Stats vs. ETSU | Final Stats vs. Samford
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Marshall volleyball split the day on Friday, Sept. 18 at the Comfort INN-Vitational hosted by Morehead State University with a loss against ETSU and a win over Samford.
After losing the first match, 3-0, to ETSU, the Herd came out focused and determined to bounce back in its second match. Marshall controlled the tempo from the beginning in match two as it downed Samford, by a score of 3-0.
Today's matches wrapped up the Herd's non-conference schedule. Marshall will enter conference play with a 9-4 record.
ETSU moves to 6-4, while Samford falls to 4-5.
MARSHALLL VS ETSU (19-25, 21-25, 15-25)
The Herd fell behind early in set one, which established the tone of the whole match. Marshall trailed 9-3 to ETSU to begin the first. MU brought the score within three points after back-to-back kills by junior Ally Kiekover (Grand Rapids, Mich.). The three-point deficit was the closest that Marshall got to the Buccaneers in the first set. The Bucs went on to win the first set by six points.
The second set for the Herd had the beginning of a more focused team, but the result was the same with ETSU claiming the set. Marshall took an early 7-4 lead in the set. The Buccaneers went on a run where they captured seven out of eight points to put them up by three. From there, ETSU held the lead throughout the set en route to a 25-21 set win.
In the final set of the match, Marshall and ETSU battled back-and-forth throughout the beginning as the teams were tied at 10-all. After being tied, the Bucs pulled away on a seven-point run. The Herd was able to bring the game within four points at the 18-14 mark. ETSU went on to close out the match taking seven of the last eight points.
Kiekover led the Herd with 13 kills on 17 attacks and three errors for a match high .588 hit percentage. The middle blocker also recorded two aces and one solo block. Sophomore setter Kayla Simmons (Gainesville, Fla.) had a team high 27 assists, while junior Cassie Weaver (Huntington, W.Va.) held the advantage in digs for Marshall with nine.
MARSHALLL VS SAMFORD (25-18, 25-23, 25-21)
Marshall came out determined in its second match of the day against the Samford Bulldogs. The Herd rolled out to an early 10-3 lead with five kills coming from Weaver. Marshall continued to thunder through the set as it held a 16-7 lead after a block by Ashley Arnold (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Taylor Pelton (Louisville, Ky.). With such a dominating hold on the set, MU went on to win the set, 25-18.
Similar to the beginning of the first set, Marshall started the second with an 8-3 lead. The Herd went on a seven-point run, including three kills from senior Lauren Legge (Pliny, W.Va.) and a service ace from Allie Kellerman (Louisville, Ky.). The Bulldogs went on a streak of their own and tied the set up at eight. With kills coming from Pelton and Kiekover, Marshall took a 17-10 lead over the Samford. The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead quickly and scored eight points in a row to take an 18-17 lead. The Herd responded after it lost the lead by taking the next four points. From there, Marshall wouldn't lose control of the lead as it won the set, 25-23.
After taking the first two sets, Marshall was poised to take the match in three. There was a little back-and-forth action to begin the set, but the Herd was able to pull away as it held a 13-8 lead after an ace by Kiekover. Marshall kept on pushing forward in hopes for a shutout victory. At the 18-13 mark of the third set, Weaver recorded her final kill of the match. Samford closed the gap and brought the set within one, but MU responded with three straight points. The Herd clinched the match victory off a block from Simmons and Arnold.
It was a night of new team highs for the Herd, as Pelton's 15 kills, Simmons' 33 assists and Kellerman's 19 digs were all new season highs for the team in matches played to just three sets. Weaver finished the match with 14 kills and 11 digs.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes from Herd coach Mitch Jacobs
On Allie Kellerman against Samford:
"Kellerman was sensational tonight. She made a lot of defensive plays which allowed our offense to keep on rolling.
On Taylor Pelton and Cassie Weaver against Samford:
"It was nice to see Taylor and Cassie have a good bounce back match after having a rough match versus ETSU."
On the non-conference schedule coming to a close:
"This puts an end to our non-conference schedule, and we are excited to get back home next week."
UP NEXT
Marshall returns back to the Cam Henderson Center for its first conference match. The Herd will face off with WKU on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
