Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rice
@HerdVolleyball Drops C-USA Match at Rice
10/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas - Marshall volleyball dropped a Conference USA road match Friday night at Rice with a 3-0 (18-25, 23-25, 18-25) decision.
The Thundering Herd (15-6, 4-2 C-USA) was led offensively by five players who recorded at least seven kills. Senior Ally Kiekover had a team-high 10 kills and hit at .529. Freshman Madelyn Cole finished with nine kills while freshman Jac'cara Walker had eight kills. Senior Cassie Weaver and freshman Madison Hill each had seven kills. Cole led the Herd with 23 assists and was tied for a team-best nine digs with freshman Audrey Shannon and senior Allie Kellerman.
Marshall started the first set by taking the first two points off a kill by Walker and a Rice (13-8, 5-1 C-USA) attacking error. The lead didn't last as the Owls scored three-straight points to take the lead. The Herd was able to tie the set at four apiece following a kill by Kiekover. It was the last tie of the set as Rice took control of the frame by scoring three points in a row. The Owls went on to maintain at least a two-point lead throughout the set and took the first set, 25-18.
The second set was highly contested as it featured 13 ties and four lead changes. Rice began with a 7-4 lead but Marshall rallied to tie the frame at eight. The Herd had kills from Kayla Simmons, Cole and Walker in the rally. Rice went on to take the next two points and led 10-8 lead but Marshall responded with two points of its own to knot up the set at 10. Following the tie, neither team held a lead larger than one until Marshall's lead at 17-15. The Owls tied the set at 20 which forced the Herd to call a timeout. After the timeout, Rice scored three points in a row to take a 23-20 lead. The Owls claimed the set, 25-23.
Marshall and Rice began the third set similar to the way they finished the second by neither team gaining a significant edge. The Owls gained a three-point lead at the 11-8 after a Herd attacking error. Rice pushed its lead to six at 15-9 following a kill. MU pulled set within four points at 13-17 and 15-19 but that was the closest the team got to Rice's lead. The Owls won the final set, 25-18.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes by head coach Mitch Jacobs
On the match:
Rice was on. We tried a few different things and just couldn't get them out of rhythm.
On the team's play:
We need to serve tougher and be quicker on our reads.
On set two:
I thought we had an advantage in set two but we made a couple big errors and Rice took advantage and closed it.
Looking ahead to Sunday:
We need to get ready for LA Tech on Sunday and make that our only focus.
UP NEXT
The Thundering Herd returns to action on Sunday at Louisiana Tech. First serve is set for 2 p.m. ET.
