Oct. 3, 2009
Volleyball Drops Match to SMU, 3-1
Elizabeth Fleming and Kristin Marcum Tally Double-Doubles
DALLAS, Texas – The Marshall University volleyball team received double-doubles from Elizabeth Fleming and Kristin Marcum, but it was not enough as the team fell to SMU, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 15-25, 20-25) in a Conference USA match on Saturday night at the Moody Coliseum.
MU drops to 15-4 overall and 3-2 in C-USA play; while SMU improves to 12-6, and evened its conference record at 2-2.
“It was a tough road trip,” head coach Mitch Jacobs said, after dropping conference matches on consecutive evenings. “We really need to stop killing the momentum we gain in game two. Two nights in a row we put things together in the second game and for the second-straight night we had a let down in game three.”
Marcum tallied a career-high 24 digs along with 10 kills, while Fleming dished out a match-high 44 assists and added 14 digs in the loss. It marked the seventh double-double of the season for Marcum and the eighth for Fleming.
The first set featured 16 ties as the score teeter tottered back and forth, with the lead for either squad never reaching more than two points. MU trailed 22-21, when Jacobs called a timeout.
The Herd answered back with two straight points on kills from Kristin Marcum and Elizabeth Fleming, to hold a one-point lead, 23-22. The Mustangs rallied off three-straight points, ending with a block from Courtney Manning and Jessica Oliver to escape with a first set victory, 25-23.
Fleming registered a kill in the second set to help push the Herd to an early three point advantage, 8-5. MU would expand their lead to five points, 17-12, when Abby Tomas collected a kill and followed by teaming up with Emily Sullivan on a block. The Herd outlasted SMU the rest of the set, 25-19, to even the match.
After knotting the match at 1-1, the Herd suffered a let down in the third frame falling 25-15. MU fell behind early, 12-3, and could not overcome the early deficit to the Mustangs.
In the fourth set, the Herd traded points early on as the match had eight ties. Trailing 12-10, Cameron Yoho nailed a kill and Herman recorded a solo block to even the score at 12-all, the last time the MU would even the score in the frame. SMU would hold off the Herd for the remainder of the set and capture the match victory, 3-1.
“We have to pick up our emotional level, while keeping our heads in the game plan,” Jacobs said. “When we do that, we play stronger and more efficient.”
Herman tied for the match-high with 15 kills, while collecting nine digs for the Herd. Sullivan chipped in with nine kills, four block assists and four digs.
“On the positive side, we really stepped up our floor defense tonight and Ryanne [Milligan] and Kristin [Marcum] were great in that area,” Jacobs said.
Milligan tallied 17 digs, while Abby Tomas had a balanced outing with seven kills, five block assists and four digs.
SMU received double-doubles from Dana Powell (15 kills, 13 digs) and Kathryn Wilkerson (11 kills, 17 digs). Sidney Stewart added a match-high 25 digs in the win for the Mustangs.
MU is off until Friday, Oct. 9, when the Herd travels to Birmingham, Ala., to play UAB at 8 p.m.
