Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Ohio
@HerdVolleyball Edged by Ohio in Four Sets
9/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Box Score (PDF)
ATHENS, Ohio ââ'¬" The Marshall volleyball team came up short on Tuesday night against regional rival Ohio in four sets (25-23, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21) at the Convocation Center.
Marshall (2-6) was led by a trio of sophomores in Madison Hill, Jac'cara Walker and Madelyn Cole. Hill posted a team-high 16 kills with a .429 hitting percentage. Hill also added four blocks. Walker registered her fourth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 10 digs, while Madelyn Cole had her fifth double-double of the season with 44 assists and 15 digs. Cole had four service aces. Freshman Jessa Long tied with Cole for a team-best 15 digs.
The first set of the match was highly competitive between the Thundering Herd and Bobcats. The largest lead held by either team in the frame was three by Ohio at the 13-10 mark, which forced a Herd timeout. After the stoppage, Marshall quickly responded and scored four consecutive points and took the lead at 14-13. The teams continued to battle and eventually were tied at 20. The Herd took a 22-20 lead after a Craft kill and a block by Rowe and Craft, but Ohio rallied and won the set by taking five of the last six points.
Ohio (5-3) took a two-set advantage in the match by edging out the Thundering Herd in the second frame. The teams were neck and neck as the set featured 14 ties and six lead changes. The Bobcats pulled away late by winning six of the last eight points.
It was all Marshall in the third set. The Thundering Herd came out of the break and took a commanding 10-3 lead over Ohio. Marshall was powered by Cole with three aces and a kill, while Hill and Lauren Mattmuller each had a kill in the run. The Herd never lost control of the lead and finished the set by winning five consecutive points.
The Thundering Herd looked to take its momentum from the third set into the fourth, as it built an early 4-0 lead. The Marshall lead was short-lived after the Bobcats scored nine straight points. Ohio pushed its lead to six, the largest of the set at the 14-9 mark. Marshall did attempt a late rally that brought itself within two points at 23-21. After a timeout by Ohio, the Bobcats took the final two points to clinch the match victory.
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The Thundering Herd opens its home schedule by hosting the Thunder Invite from Sept. 8-9. Marshall begins the tournament on Friday against Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. MU returns to the court on Saturday against Toledo at 1 p.m. and Maryland at 7 p.m.
---HerdZone.com---
