Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UMKC
@HerdVolleyball comes up short against UMKC on Saturday
8/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Final Stats (PDF)
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Marshall volleyball team closed out its first regular season tournament with a loss against the UMKC in three sets (31-29, 28-26, 27-25) on Saturday at the Winfield Dunn Center.
"Tough weekend for sure," head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "Not what we had hoped for coming in and yet the tough match ups will keep coming. We had a number of set points in this match but struggled to finish. Time to get in the gym and work. Our first ball attack needs to be much better. And our ability to win the rallies late in sets has to be done with more determination. We have a lot of young talent and I have no doubt that we will get over the hump."
Junior Lauren Mattmuller had a career day against UMKC (2-1). The Venice, Fla., native recorded her first career double-double with a career-best 13 kills and 13 digs. Mattmuller was followed by sophomore Madison Hill with 12 kills and senior Justice Craft with nine.
Sophomore Madelyn Cole posted her third straight double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs. Freshman Jessa Long led the Herd with 23 digs, while fellow classmate Addisyn Rowe had a team-high five total blocks.
Marshall (0-3) jumped out to an early 5-3 lead in the first set after a kill by Mattmuller, Hill and three errors by the Roos. The lead didn't last for the Thundering Herd as UMKC battled back and tied it at six. The set continued to be close until Marshall won eight of nine points to take a 15-10 lead, its largest lead of the frame. But once again, UMKC found a way to rally and tied the match at 20. The two teams went back-and-forth until UMKC captured the set, 31-29.
The roles appeared to be reversed in the second set, as UMKC built a 22-13 lead. Marshall fought its way back by winning eight of nine points to make the score 23-21. After the Roos picked up set point at 24-21, Marshall scored four points from a kill by Mattmuller, Craft and a pair of attack errors to take a 25-24 lead. UMKC once again rallied late in the frame and clinched the set, 28-26.
UMKC came out strong in the third set by taking a commanding 11-3 lead. The Herd continued to fight and captured five straight points and brought the score to 11-8. Taylor Pelton and Hill had kills in the five-point rally, while Hill and Cole combined for two blocks. Marshall completed its comeback and tied the set at 15 with a Mattmuller kill. From there, neither team gained a lead larger than two points. The Herd held set point at 25-24, but UMKC rallied and won the set, 27-25.
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The Thundering Herd returns to action on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Morehead State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Eagles went 2-1 at the Eagle Challenge this weekend with wins over Delaware State and Winthrop.
---HerdZone.com---
