Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Middle Tennessee
@HerdVolleyball Sweeps Ninth Match in its Last Ten
9/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall volleyball team earned its ninth sweep in its last ten matches, defeating the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-14) Sunday afternoon at the Cam Henderson Center.
The sweep marked the first time that the Thundering Herd (13-4, 2-0 C-USA) opened conference play with two sweeps since the 2005 season. That team swept its first five conference matches and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Cassie Weaver recorded her 1,000th career dig in the first set, making her just the fifth Herd player to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Weaver joins Stephanie Cahill (2004-07), Laura Der (2010-13), Alisha Bable (1995-97) and Bridget Repsher (1991-94) as Herd players to accomplish the feat.
Weaver recorded 12 kills and seven digs in the match. Madison Hill and Jac'cara Walker tallied nine kills apiece. Madelyn Cole had 18 assists and Kayla Simmons added 12 assists. Allie Kellerman had a team-high ten digs.
The Herd opened the match by taking nine of the first 13 points, forcing Middle Tennessee (4-11, 1-1 C-USA) to call a timeout. Hill, Weaver, Aly Kiekover and Walker each had kills during that span. Marshall continued its run with a Kassidy Lemons service ace and another kill by Weaver as part of a 5-1 run to increase its lead to 14-5. Marshall continued to keep the pressure on the Blue Raiders and took the first set, 25-11.
Middle Tennessee started the second set by winning seven of the first nine points, forcing Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs to call a timeout. The Blue Raiders continued to control the set until a five-point Marshall run gave the Herd a 14-12 lead. Hill had a pair of kills during the five-point stretch. The two teams would trade points until Marshall took the last four to win the set, 25-21, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Marshall began the third set by taking six of the first nine points, highlighted by a pair of kills by Weaver and a kill by Taylor Pelton. Middle Tennessee cut the Marshall lead to 8-6 but a four-point Herd run forced the Blue Raiders to call a timeout. A six-point Herd run increased Marshall's lead to 20-9. The Herd closed out the match with a pair of kills by Kassidy Lemons and a Blue Raiders service error, taking the final set, 25-14, to sweep its ninth match in its last ten.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes from head coach Mitch Jacobs
Opening statement
It was good, we really had the energy to play. They came out with some different lineups tonight and we executed. I think our service game is playing really well right now. Our ball control can tighten up a little bit and we are going to need that going against Southern Miss next week.
On the difference of play in set one and set two
That's the second match in a row that we come out in set two, just out there to play volleyball, rather than having that same focus that we began the match with. It was not a big deal, this is a pretty level headed team, and I didn't really have to drive anything home. I would like to see us just maintain that level but it is not an easy thing. The fact that they came back in both today and Friday night in sets two despite the poor starts shows a lot of grit."
On the outside play of the team
I was very impressed with our outside play today. They struggled a little bit on Friday and I think they made it a big point to be focused, ready and to learn the tendencies of the blockers. They were ready to go today. I was really pumped up about the way they handled themselves today, very low error night for our outside hitters and that is a big deal for us. We were able to adjust a couple things and I thought we did a nice job as a team.
#STAMPEDE16
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UP NEXT
Marshall begins its conference road schedule on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Southern Miss Eagles.
