Nov. 19, 2005

Box Score

For the second night in a row the Thundering Herd has rebounded from an 0-2 deficit to win three straight sets and advance in the 2005 Conference USA Volleyball Championship, held at Rice's Autry Court. Marshall came back to defeat fourth-seeded UTEP with scores of 23-30, 21-30, 30-24, 30-28, 15-6 and will compete for the title match, which is aired live on CSTV Sunday at 4 p.m. (CT).

"The difference maker in games three, four and five was Kelly-Anne (Billingy)," said head coach Mitch Jacobs, who was named Conference USA Coach of the Year earlier in the week. "If we could just keep tallying the swings, we have the best offense in the league. I was just proud on the way they never gave up."

C-USA Player of the Year Kelly-Anne Billingy had a match-high 37 kills, which ties the league single-match tournament total with Saint Louis' Julie Tretten and USF's Michelle Collier. Tretten had 37 against Louisville on Nov. 21, 1997, while Collier posted 37 against the Cardinals in 1998.

Katie Stein, the 2005 C-USA Setter of the Year, gave her all for the Herd as the senior dished out 73 assists to go along with 14 digs. Classmate Nickie Sanlin recorded 16 kills and Amber Sims had 15 for the winning effort.

"I think we have just come out way too tense the last two matches," said Sanlin. "We were trying to be perfect, instead of just enjoying ourselves and doing what we know to do."

The Miners did not make it easy for the Herd as they took games one and two in fairly quick fashion. Leading the way was freshman Brooke Peugh, who had 17 kills on just two attack errors and an impressive .395 hitting percentage. Kari Stacy was also a force for UTEP as she recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 15 digs.

The Herd advance after playing just their fourth five-game match on the season and will take on the winner of second-seeded Houston and the Conference USA Cinderella squad No. 11 seed Tulane. The championship match is slated for Sunday at 4 p.m. (CT).

For complete C-USA Championship coverage, please go to: C-USA Championship Central

2005 C-USA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Thursday, November 17, 2005: Match 1 - (9) UCF def. (8) Memphis, 3-1 (22-30, 30-24, 30-24, 30-24) Match 2 - (5) East Carolina def. (12) Southern Miss, 3-0 (30-21, 32-30, 30-27) Match 3 - (11) Tulane def. (6) Rice, 3-2 (31-33, 30-23, 30-27, 18-30, 15-13) Match 4 - (7) SMU def. (10) UAB, 3-1 (27-30, 30-28, 30-26, 30-21)

Friday, November 18, 2005 (Quarterfinals): Match 5 - (1) Marshall def. UCF, 3-2 (24-30, 23-30, 30-25, 30-23, 15-10) Match 6 - (4) UTEP def. East Carolina, 3-0 (30-25, 31-29, 30-25) Match 7 - Tulane def. (3) Tulsa, 3-2 (26-30, 30-25, 21-30, 30-15, 15-13) Match 8 - (2) Houston def. SMU, 3-1 (30-19, 17-30, 30-25, 30-13)

Saturday, November 19, 2005 (Semifinals): Match 9 - Marshall def. UTEP, 3-2 (23-30, 21-30, 30-24, 30-28, 15-6) Match 10 - Tulane vs. Houston, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 20, 2005 (Championship): Match 11 - Championship Match (CSTV), 4 p.m.

All Times Central. All matches will be played at Autry Court, Houston, Texas.