IRVING, Texas - The Marshall University volleyball team was tabbed in the
fifth slot of the recently released 2008 Conference USA Volleyball
Preseason Poll. Senior Jalicia Ross and sophomore Elizabeth Fleming were
both named to the preseason all-conference team as voted on by the head
coaches.
The Thundering Herd is coming off an impressive 2007 campaign with a 23-9
overall record and a near perfect league mark of 15-1, as Marshall
captured its second regular season crown in the last two years.
"I guess it's a long fall from grace when you lose four all-conference
players to graduation," Herd head coach Mitch Jacobs said. "I think that
if we are the fifth best team in this league at the end, then C-USA
volleyball will be even tougher than it has been in the past."
Fleming spent part of her summer playing volleyball in Israel as part of
the Athletes in Action program. The 2007 C-USA Freshman of the Year became
Marshall's single-season assists leader when she dished out 1,642, a
figure that ranks 11th best on C-USA's all-time single season charts. She
also ranked 13th in the nation and second among all freshman setters, with
a 13.35 assists per game average.
Ross finished second on the team with 94 blocks (22 solo, 72 assisted).
Ross and Fleming were All-C-USA second team honorees last year.
"Hopefully the community will stay behind us as we redefine ourselves,"
added Jacobs. "Trust me when I say that the future of Marshall Volleyball
is now. The returning players on this team have been waiting patiently
behind that past senior class and can't wait to show what they have to our
fans. This team will grow every match as our young players start to gain
confidence."
