Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Saint Francis (PA)
@HerdVolleyball Sweeps Day One at Toledo/ASICS Invitational
9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score vs Fort Wayne | Box Score vs Saint Francis
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Marshall volleyball swept day one of the Toledo/ASICS Invitational with three set wins over Fort Wayne (25-20, 25-14, 25-21) and Saint Francis (25-15, 25-18, 25-22). The Thundering Herd improves to 7-3, while the Mastodons fall to 3-5 and the Red Flash is 3-6.
Leading Marshall offensively on Friday was senior Cassie Weaver with a combined 29 kills and hitting at .254. Following Weaver was freshman Jac'cara Walker with 21 kills and an impressive .450 hitting efficiency. Junior Kayla Simmons recorded 52 assists, while Allie Kellerman had a team-best 33 digs.
The Thundering Herd opened the invitational against Fort Wayne and came out of the locker room on fire. Marshall sprang to an early 10-6 lead following an ace by Simmons. The Herd never lost control of the lead in the set, but allowed Fort Wayne to tie twice at 14 and 17. After a timeout was called at the 17-all mark, MU scored the next six points, which included kills by Shelby Conley and Weaver. Ally Kiekover clinched the 25-20 set win with a kill from Simmons.
Marshall continued to put the pressure on Fort Wayne by starting the second set, 10-4. Kiekover had three kills in the span, while Walker and Weaver each had two. The Herd only improved its edge over the Mastodons as it took its largest large of 11 at 20-9 after a Fort Wayne attacking error. Marshall closed out the set with two kills from Conley.
The third set of the match would be the most tightly contested as it featured 11 ties and four lead changes. After the Herd went up 5-1, the Mastodons rallied to tie the set at six. From there, the two teams went back and forth until Marshall gained a three-point lead at 21-18 that came from a block by Madison Hill and Conley. Marshall maintained its lead and sealed the sweep with a kill by Kiekover.
The Herd finished the match hitting at .365, its third highest of the season. The team hit .387 in the first set, .400 in the second and .303 in the final frame.
In the second match of the day, Marshall started the same way it did its first match, as it leaped out to an early six point lead against Saint Francis at 10-4. The Herd improved its lead to 16-6 following an ace by Lauren Mattmuller. Saint Francis attempted to rally as it brought the match within seven points at 22-15, but Marshall recorded three kills from Walker, Taylor Pelton and Mattmuller to earn the first set win.
The Herd wasted no time taking an advantage in the second set. Marshall scored five of the first eight points that featured kills by Justice Craft, Pelton, Weaver and an ace by Audrey Shannon. MU never lost its lead in the set and cruised to a 25-18 set victory. Craft paced the green and white with five kills in the frame and hit at .571.
Leading the match 2-0, Saint Francis came out strong in the third set as its backs were up against a wall. The two teams traded points throughout the first half. With the score tied at 12, Marshall began to pull away with four points that included three kills by Walker. The Red Flash didn't go away quietly as it rallied to tie the set at 21-all, the 11th time of the frame. After the tie, Marshall closed the match out by scoring four of the last five points.
Marshall has now won six of its last seven matches, including back-to-back-to-back sweeps.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes by head coach Mitch Jacobs
Following the match against Fort Wayneââ'¬Â¦
"Good start to the tourney. Our ball control was mostly solid, but we need to stay confident. Our block was non-existent until late in the third set and that also has to change. After the 18-16 timeout, I thought we played the next two points a little down and then recovered with the best energy of the match. Our pin hitters were fantastic and taking smart swings and really carried this match, so I'm really proud of them and our setters for seeing their success and going to them. Seeing our setters move Ally Kiekover around as well to free her up and be a little more unpredictable was fantastic."
On the team against Saint Francisââ'¬Â¦
"Our team really competed well. Saint Francis never stops scrapping up the ball and so it impressed me that our side of the net stayed patient and took advantage of our opportunities to put the ball away."
On the team's ball controlââ'¬Â¦
"Our ball control did a great job as well so we were able to spread them and get some really nice swings."
On the play of Simmons, Mattmuller, Craft, Walker and Kellerman
"Individually I thought Kayla Simmons did a very nice job leading and putting our players in very successful situations. Jac'cara Walker for one really took advantage of the splits in the block. Lauren Mattmuller and Justice Craft worked super hard through and kept getting strong as the match went out. Allie Kellerman continued to be very solid."
On the play of Riedel and Peltonââ'¬Â¦
"I think a huge energy boost came from Taylor Riedel and Taylor Pelton's slot on the floor. Pelton got hot and carried us through set two while every time Riedel entered for Pelton in the backrow, I felt the energy went up another notch."
UP NEXT
Marshall finishes the Toledo/ASICS Invitational tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. against the Rockets.
