Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball Opens Conference Play this Weekend
9/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - After being away from the Cam Henderson Center for 11 straight games, the Marshall volleyball team returns home to host Conference USA rivals Charlotte on Friday at 6 p.m. and Middle Tennessee at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall is off to its best 15-match start since the 2009 season where the team began 13-2. This season the Thundering Herd holds an 11-4 record, which includes a seven-match sweep streak. MU's win and sweep streak came to an end last Saturday at seventh-ranked Florida in a four-set loss. It was only the sixth set that the Gators lost all season.
Cassie Weaver will likely enter rarified air this weekend. The Huntington native enters the match with 1,043 kills and 992 digs. In the rally scoring era (2001-pres.), only Stephanie Cahill (2004-07) and Laura Der (2010-13) have recorded over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Prior to the rally scoring era, Alisha Bable (1995-97) and Bridget Repsher (1991-94) recorded the feat. Weaver has 165 kills and 132 digs this season.
Senior libero Allie Kellerman earned her second Conference USA defensive player of the week award on Monday. The Herd's leader in digs only improved her total this past week. She began the week at Stetson with 16 digs, and had a career-high six aces in the three set sweep. On the opening day of the 2016 Active Ankle Challenge, Kellerman combined for 32 digs with 14 against Jacksonville and 18 against Florida A&M. The Louisville, Ky., native had a week best 19 digs at seventh-ranked Florida. Kellerman finished the week with 67 total digs and averaged 5.15 digs per set.
Marshall ranks sixth in the NCAA with 766 kills. Leading the way this season for the Herd has been Jac'cara Walker with 176, Weaver with 165, Madison Hill with 120 and Ally Kiekover with 112. Hill holds the third best hitting percentage in the country by hitting .455 for the season.
SCOUTING THE 'NINERS
Charlotte enters Friday's contest with a 6-8 overall record and on a three-match losing skid. The 49ers were at the Wake Forest Black & Gold Invitational last weekend and started off with a five set win over High Point. After the win, the 'Niners dropped four set matches to Wofford, Wake Forest and Furman. Charlotte is lead offensively by Molly Shaw with 163 kills, while defensively Shelby Green has a team-high 262 digs.
The Herd and 49ers split the season series a year ago with each team winning at home.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee holds a 3-10 overall record with wins over Morgan State, Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe. The Blue Raiders are paced by Bailey Mason with 97 kills, good for 2.31 kills per set. Meg Irvin has a team-high 157 digs, while Jacqueline Lux has 380 assists.
The Thundering Herd swept the season series against Middle Tennessee, including a five-set thriller at MT to earn the eighth seed in the Conference USA Tournament. Weaver had a career-best 28 kills.
The Blue Raiders will play at UAB on Friday before making the trip north to Huntington.
PROMOTIONS
Maggie's Mermaids: Maggie is five years old and more importantly she is a survivor. She had a neuroblastoma at age four, has had six rounds of chemo, a transplant surgery, radiation treatment and much more. Maggie is trying to help the local Ronald McDonald house by getting a new playground. If you bring in old plastic caps you can help out Maggie's cause. She will be the Marshall volleyball team's special guest on Friday and Herd fans who bring in five plastic bottle caps will gain admission for $3. For information about Maggie and her cause please visit her Facebook page HERE.
National Daughter Day: All daughters can purchase a ticket for $1 on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Marshall begins its conference road schedule on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Southern Miss Eagles.
