Nov. 17, 2007

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University senior outside hitter Kelly-Anne Billingy tallied a season-high 33 kills, but No. 4 Tulsa was able to pull away to thrilling 3-2 (30-19, 32-34, 30-24, 30-32, 19-21) victory over the top-seeded Herd in Saturday night's Conference USA Semifinal Round match at the Cam Henderson Center.

With the loss, Marshall finishes its season at 23-9, while Tulsa improves to 26-8 on the season.

For the second-straight match, Billingy produced a double-double with a match-best 33 kills and had 13 digs. Junior outside hitter Jalicia Ross ended the evening with 18 kills on 27 attempts for a solid .593 hitting efficiency, while senior outside hitter Stephanie Cahill added 17 kills and 11 digs for her 20^th double-double.

C-USA Freshman of the Year Elizabeth Fleming guided the Herd offense with a match-best and career-high 73 assists and 13 digs for her ninth double-double of her rookie campaign.

Marshall's ace was its serve as the Herd landed a season-best 15, including six in game one and four-straight by Billingy. The Herd hit .289, had 86 kills, 78 digs, had eight team blocks and 81 assists in the loss.

Tulsa had five players with 10-or-more kills and four players with 10-plus digs. Tulsa was led by a pair of seniors and All-C-USA first team picks in Julia Silva and Fabiola Nepomuceno.  Silva had her 10^th triple-double of the year with 12 kills, 62 assists and 16 digs, while Nepomuceno landed a career-best 31 kills.

Hanna Stout added 13 kills, followed by rookie teammate Emma Ridley's 11 and Renee Brooks 10. 

Junior libero Malorey Grove led the team with 19 digs, followed by Silva's 16, freshman Nicola Boyle added 13 and junior Kelsey Wood tallied 11 in the victory.

As a team, TU hit .240, had 81 kills, 72 digs, seven service aces and 11 team blocks.

The Golden Hurricane will face No. 3 seed and defending tournament champion UAB in the title match live on CSTV Sunday at 6 p.m.

2007 C-USA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Cam Henderson Center / Huntington, W.Va.

FIRST ROUND
Thursday, Nov. 15
(7) Rice 3, (10) UTEP 0
(11) Southern Miss 3, (6) Houston 1
(8) East Carolina 3, (9) SMU 0
(5) Memphis 3, (12) UCF 1

QUARTERFINAL
Friday, Nov. 16
(2) Tulane 3, (7) Rice 0
(3) UAB 3, (11) Southern Miss 0
(1) Marshall 3, (8) East Carolina 1
(4) Tulsa 3, (5) Memphis 0

SEMIFINALS
Saturday, Nov. 17
 (3) UAB 3, (2) Tulane 1
 (4) Tulsa 3, (1) Marshall 2

CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, Nov. 18
 (4) Tulsa vs. (3) UAB, 6 p.m.