Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Marshall
Xavier Netters fall at Marshall, 3-0
09.04.07 | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2007
Box Score
Huntington, W. Va. - The Musketeer volleyball team fell, 3-0, to the Thundering Herd of Marshall Tuesday night at the Cam Henderson Center. Xavier (7-2) kept games one and two close, 30-28 and 30-24, but Marshall (5-3) took a commanding third-game lead to cap off the win, 30-16.
XU was lead by senior Jill Quayle who smashed a team high 12 kills and tallied seven total blocks (3 BS, 4 BA) in the match. Sophomore Kelly Ruth posted a team high seven digs along with seven kills on the night.
The Herd was able to go up by three early in game one, 6-3, but the Musketeers tied the game at seven apiece after Ruth had a timely block assist. XU would go ahead on the next point as Quayle and junior Jenn Welsh worked together on a block assist to put the tally at 8-7. From that point on the game would toggle back and forth with neither team taking more than a two point lead.
With another block assist from Quayle and Welsh, the Blue and White took a one-point advantage, 21-20, and forced Marshall into a timeout. Out of the break, Xavier built its largest lead of the frame and was only three points away from the win at 27-24 but Marshall was still in the fight. The Musketeers would lose their lead and the game after a 5-1 run by the Herd gave them the 30-28 victory.
The point exchange continued into game two as XU took a 1-0 lead to start the frame. Both teams would keep the game close as neither team would go ahead by more than one until Xavier took a two point advantage at 8-6. Marshall would answer with three straight to reclaim the lead but it would be short lived. A solo block by Quayle put the Musketeers up two, 11-9, and a poorly placed set by the Herd gave XU its largest lead of the game, 12-9.
Xavier would return to its three point lead three more times before Marshall was able to tie the game again at 16 all. An 8-2 run by the Herd opened a six point lead for MU at 26-20 and the Musketeers elected to take a timeout. Out of the break, XU would fight to stay alive but was unable to overcome the deficit falling, 30-24, in game two.
The Musketeers would go up 7-4 early on in the third game but a 10 point swing in favor of the Herd would result in a 10-7 Marshall lead and a Xavier timeout. The Herd closed out the third frame with a 14-6 to take the game, 30-16, and the match, 3-0.
The Musketeers return to action this weekend as they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take part in the Michigan/Pepsi Challenge. The one-day event will pit Xavier against Eastern Michigan for the second time this season with first serve set for 3 pm Friday afternoon. In the nightcap, Xavier with face host Michigan at 7 pm. Please check www.GOXAVIER.com for the latest scores and updates.
