Nov. 19, 2009

HOUSTON, Texas – The Marshall University volleyball team travels to Houston, Texas, to take part in the eight-team Conference USA tournament hosted by Rice University.  The fifth seeded Thundering Herd will be the visitor against the tournament host and No. 4 Owls on Friday.  First-serve for the Herd is slated for 6 p.m. EST at the Tudor Fieldhouse.

The Herd earned the No. 5 slot by finishing 10-6 against league opponents and 22-8 overall.  The Owls finished with an 11-5 conference record, 19-8 overall, to claim the No. 4 seed. 

MU played at Rice on Oct. 31, dropping the contest in straight sets (30-32, 16-25, 19-25).  The Herd holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series dating back to 2005. 

During the Halloween meeting, first team C-USA selection Emily Sullivan tallied 12 kills and second team conference selection, Elizabeth Fleming, recorded 35 assists in the loss.  Kristin Marcum registered a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.

Friday, Nov. 20
Match 1 – (3) Tulane vs. (6) SMU, 1 p.m. EST
Match 2 – (2) Tulsa vs. (7) UAB, 3 p.m. EST
Match 3 – (4) Rice vs. (5) Marshall, 6 p.m. EST
Match 4 – (1) Southern Miss vs. (8) Houston, 8 p.m. EST

Saturday, Nov. 21
Match 5 – 3 p.m. EST
Match 6 – 6 p.m. EST

Sunday, Nov. 22
Match 7 (CBS C) – 2 p.m. EST