Herd Volleyball Takes Five-Set Thriller over Arkansas State

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University volleyball team (8-19, 2-13 Sun Belt) took a five-set battle (25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 25-19, 20-18) from the Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-20, 2-13 Sun Belt) on Thursday night in the Cam Henderson Center.

"I am so proud of this team's fight and effort to come out with a hard fought win," Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "Arkansas State adapted to our offense really well, but defensively we were able to push them and come out on top. This team has never wavered in the fight and grit department, and as a coach that's what I'm proudest of. Macy did a phenomenal job carrying our offense and Megan Taylor's blocking really pushed us over the edge. Top to bottom this is a great team win!"

With a match-high 25 kills and 15 digs, graduate student Macy McElhaney collected a double-double in the victory. Sophomore Brynn Brown recorded her team-high 11th double-double of the season with 34 assists and 10 digs.

Seniors Megan Taylor and Essence Clerkley led the way with eight and seven blocks, respectively. Graduate student Kaitlyn Gehler had a team-high 20 digs.

With the score tied 6-6 in the first set, a Macy McElhaney kill gave the Herd a 7-6 lead. The Red Wolves would knot the frame three times from that point, but MU did not falter as a McElhaney kill closed it out for the home side 25-23.

Marshall and Arkansas State battled back-and-forth in the second and third sets. The second saw the score tied 12 times with five lead changes as the third featured the score tied 10 times with five lead changes. A-State held on to take both stanzas 25-19 and 25-20, respectively.

Then in the fourth, the Herd saw itself down 4-2 early on. However, Marshall went on a terror taking 15 of the next 20 points to take a 17-9 lead and force a Red Wolves timeout after a kill by junior Regan Tinkle. MU held off Arkansas State, 25-19, to force an all-deciding fifth set.

A-State quickly took the first three points of the fifth set and eventually extended its lead to 10-6. Marshall wasn't ready to roll over just yet. The Herd went on a 5-1 rally concluded by a Tinkle kill to tie the set 11-11. The two sides then traded points until a Red Wolves attacking error as a service ace by freshman Bella Thompson sealed the match for Marshall.

UP NEXT
The Herd closes out the weekend with another match against Arkansas State on Friday at 6 p.m.

For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Marshall University Volleyball on Facebook.

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---HerdZone.com---

Herd Volleyball Takes Five-Set Thriller over Arkansas State

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Team Stats

Macy McElhaney

Regan Tinkle

Lydia Montague

Essence Clerkley

Marshall University Athletics