Box Score (PDF)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Marshall volleyball team took a lead and then held on for a five-set victory (25-23, 25-20, 27-29, 21-25, 15-7) at Middle Tennessee on Sunday. The teams meet up again Monday at 2 p.m. eastern.
The Thundering Herd improves to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in Conference USA action. The Blue Raiders fall to 1-7 and 1-5 in league play.
"I am proud of our team to be able to pull out the win today," Herd head coach Ari Aganus said. "However, it was a frustrating match both offensively and defensively, we never got fully in rhythm. We were able to lean on Ciara (Debell) both offensively and defensively as well as Destiny (Leon). Sydney (Lostumo) did a great job leading our offense and being a weapon herself. Our serving and passing needs to get more aggressive so we can stay in system tomorrow."
Redshirt senior Ciara Debell led the Herd with 14 kills and had 16 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Debell added four total blocks. Senior Destiny Leon had a career-high 12 kills and also hit .450. The middle blocker was a force again at the net defensively with seven total blocks. Leon's streak of consecutive matches with a block is up to 37. Junior Macy McElaney finished with nine kills, two service aces and added six total blocks. Freshman Anna Calcagno tallied eight kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Megan Taylor recorded four kills and assisted at the net on defense with five total blocks. As a team, Marshall totaled 14 team blocks.
Senior setter Sydney Lostumo finished with 40 assists, six kills, eight digs, two total blocks and one ace. Junior libero Sarah Schank recorded 21 digs, her fifth match of the year with 20 or more, and had three assists. Redshirt freshman Olivia Fogo finished the day with one kill and three digs. Freshman Riley Winslow ended the day with six digs and one ace. Redshirt sophomore Hayley Delor recorded two digs.
The match was a close battle all the way through with 30 total ties and 12 lead changes, and it got started right from the first serve. The first set featured eight ties and two lead changes. Marshall led early before a 5-0 run by Middle Tennessee led to the first lead change and a Herd timeout, trailing 15-13. The Herd took back the lead at 20-19 on a block from Debell and Leon. Marshall did not allow the Blue Raiders to step back in front, despite the score being tied two more times. A solo block from Taylor, the Herd's fourth block of the set, ended the frame and gave Marshall the win, 25-23.
The second set had five ties and two lead changes. Middle Tennessee led early before the Herd slowly chipped away and took the lead for good at 18-17 off a kill from Leon. Marshall finished the second set on an 8-3 run to pick up the 25-20 win, and go up 2-0.
In the third set there were nine ties and five lead changes. Middle Tennessee was not going to go away quietly. The Blue Raiders again held an early lead throughout most of the set, until Marshall charged back to a lead at 20-19. The period then began a back-and-forth battle that had seven ties and three lead changes, as the Blue Raiders finally closed it out with the 29-27 win.
The fourth set featured seven more ties and three lead changes. Marshall had to rally after trailing early and tied the match at 14-14 on an ace from McElhaney. However, the Herd could take control, gaining a quick one-point lead before the Blue Raiders retook the lead and held on for the win, and evened the match at 2-2.
For Marshall, despite all of the trailing early and needing to fight back over the last few sets, the Herd dominated right from the start in the decisive set. After a tie at 1-1, Marshall scored six unanswered points and led 7-1. The Herd also used a 4-0 run to go up 13-4. Middle Tennessee managed to close the gap to seven at 14-7, before a kill from McElhaney closed the set and the day giving Marshall the victory.
The Monday meeting will be streamed on CUSAtv, and fans can follow along with live stats.
For all the latest information about Marshall volleyball, follow @HerdVolleyball on Twitter and Marshall University Volleyball on Facebook.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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Volleyball Defeats Blue Raiders in Five Sets - HerdZone.com
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