Marshall University Athletics
@HerdVolleyball to Host the Thunder Invite this Weekend
9/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Tournament Central
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ââ'¬" The Marshall volleyball team opens up its home schedule by hosting the Thunder Invite. The two-day tournament will be played in the Cam Henderson Center and begin on Friday, Sept. 8.
The invitational will include competition against Virginia Tech, Toledo and Maryland. The Thundering Herd's first opponent will be Virginia Tech on Friday at 7 p.m. The Herd will face Toledo at 1 p.m. and Maryland at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall (2-6) picked up its second win of the season over the weekend at the Spartan Invitational over San Diego State in three sets. The Thundering Herd's other win of the season came against regional rival Morehead State on Aug. 29.
Sophomore Jac'cara Walker ranks in the top 100 of six different statistical categories in the NCAA. The Gainesville, Fla., native ranks in total attacks (43rd; 289), total kills (44th; 103), attacks per set (47th; 11.56), kills per set (55th; 4.12), points per set (56th; 4.60) and points (58th; 115).
Sophomores Madelyn Cole, Walker and freshman Jessa Long rank in the top 10 in Conference USA. Cole ranks 10th in assists per set (7.64) and aces per set (0.32). Walker is second in kills per set (4.12), while Long ranks seventh for digs per set (3.61).
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
Maryland (6-0) remained perfect over the past weekend by winning the Liberty Invitational. The Terps opened the tournament with a sweep over Liberty, while defeating Elon and Furman in four sets on Saturday, Sept. 2.
The Terrapins have been led on offense by Erika Pritchard and Gia Milana. Pritchard has a team-high 77 kills (3.21 k/s), while Milana follows with 67 kills (2.79 k/s). Kelsey Wicinski has a team-best 120 digs.
SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
Toledo (2-4) hosted the BG/UT Invitational this past weekend. The Rockets picked up their lone win over Southeastern Louisiana in three sets. Toledo fell to VCU in four sets and Notre Dame in three. The Rockets other win of the season came against Quinnipiac.
Toledo boasts the reigning Mid-American conference (MAC) West Player of the Week in junior libero Maurissa Leonard. She averaged 5.7 digs per set in the BG/UT Invitational. For the season, Leonard is averaging 4.54 digs per set, which is the fourth-most in the MAC.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech (5-1) has begun its season by winning its first two tournaments. The Hokies went a perfect 3-0 against Idaho State, South Dakota State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Pepsi Panther Invitational. Virginia Tech suffered its only loss against Ole Miss in five sets, but won the A-State Invitational by defeating Arkansas State and SMU.
The Hokies' outside hitter Ester Talamazzi was tabbed as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Week after her performance at the A-State Invitational. She tallied 38 kills, 28 digs and hit a .217 clip.
TICKET INFORMATION
The Marshall ticket office will be offering all-tournament tickets for $10 for adults and $8 for youth. Fans can also purchase session tickets for $7 for adults, $5 for youth and $3 for groups of 10 people or more. The tournament has been broken down into three different sessions. The first session will be the two matches (Toledo vs. Maryland, Marshall vs. Virginia Tech) held on Friday. The second session is the two early matches (Maryland vs. Virginia Tech, Marshall vs. Toledo) on Saturday. The third session will be the final two matches (Virginia Tech vs. Toledo, Marshall vs. Maryland) of the tournament. Marshall students get in for free with a valid student ID.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 8
Toledo vs. Maryland ââ'¬" 4:30 p.m.
Marshall vs. Virginia Tech ââ'¬" 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 9
Maryland vs. Virginia Tech ââ'¬" 11 a.m.
Marshall vs. Toledo ââ'¬" 1 p.m.
Virginia Tech vs. Toledo ââ'¬" 5 p.m.
Marshall vs. Maryland ââ'¬" 7 p.m.
#IAmBecauseWeAre
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UP NEXT
Marshall will host in-state rival West Virginia University on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
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