Sept. 27, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University volleyball squad will take on the UAB Blazers, Sunday, Oct. 28 in a Conference USA showdown. First-serve is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.

Marshall (8-4 overall, 1-1 C-USA) is fresh off a 3-1 victory over Memphis Friday night, and is currently on a three-match winning streak.

In Marshall's first league win of the season, Kristin Marcum (Arlington, Texas) paved the way for the Thundering Herd, as she recorded a match-best (and tied her career-high) 23 digs in the win over Memphis. Elizabeth Herman (Dunwoody, Ga.) blasted a match-high 15 kills, while Emily Sullivan (Cincinnati, Ohio) drilled 13 kills on 21 attempts for a .476 percentage. Jalicia Ross (Bank Village, Trinidad) added 11 kills on 18 swings to help propel the Marshall offense. Elizabeth Fleming (South Bend, Ind.) handed out 42 assists in the match.

Sullivan has now totaled 128 kills on the season to lead the Herd, while Marcum follows closely behind with 24. Ross is Marshall's third player to break the century-mark in put-downs with 107.

Marshall is led in digs by Jessica Dhoore (LaPorte, Ind.) (130), while Marcum's 122 ranks her second on the team in the category. Megan Carlson (Andover, Minn.) has amassed 117 digs and 15 service aces while Fleming has contributed 100 digs so far in 2008, and has handed out 465 assists.

The Herd owns a 4-2 all-time series advantage over UAB (10-3 overall, 1-1 C-USA). Marshall earned a 3-0 sweep in the last meeting between the teams in 2007. In that contest, Ross collected 11 kills and added four assisted blocks to help pace Marshall to the win. The Blazers defeated Marshall 3-2 earlier that season, with a thrilling match which aired on CSTV. Ross delivered 16 kills in that match, while Marcum picked up 14 digs for the Herd.

UAB is coming off its own C-USA victory, a 3-2 decision over East Carolina, Friday, and is currently on a four-match winning streak. The Blazers received a 21-kill effort from Casey Dent and a 17-dig effort from Aleksandra Vujovic in the win over the Pirates. Nevena Stefanov served up 54 assists, while Ivana Bozic registered 15 kills to give the Blazers its 10th win in 11 tries.

Bozic leads the Blazers with 156 total kills, while Dent has provided 143 kills. Vujovic has dug a team-high 156 balls, while Bozic has added 153. Stefanov has distributed 497 assists and 109 digs, while Heather Thomas has tallied 104 digs on the year.

Sunday's match against UAB can be heard live on WMUL 88.1.

Following Sunday's action, Marshall takes to the road for C-USA match-ups against UCF and Southern Miss. The Herd will square off against the Knights, Friday, Oct. 3 in Orlando Fla. for a 7:00 p.m. start. Marshall will then trek to Hattiesburg, Miss. for a clash with the Golden Eagles, Sunday. First-serve is slated for 1:00 p.m. ET.