HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Old Dominion volleyball could not replicate its success from a day before as the Monarchs fell 3-0 at Marshall on Friday night to split its Sun Belt series versus the Herd.
Marshall 3, ODU 0
The Monarchs (9-7, 1-1 Sun Belt) fell behind 7-4 towards the beginning of the first set, but evened the score thanks to a pair of Alice Munari kills and another by Myah Conway. The Herd (9-7, 1-1) then went up 13-9 and never looked back. A late block by LeeAnne Lowery and Conway and a Marshall attack error trimmed the host's lead to 24-22, but Marshall secured the next point and the set.
Kills from Bryanna Jones and Munari helped put ODU in front 14-10 in the second set, but four unanswered points by the Herd evened things up at 17-17. After another tie at 21-21, Conway scored a set from Atilano, Elisa Maggi served an ace, and Conway and Lowery made a block for a 24-21 advantage. However, Marshall came up with a 4-0 response and went on to grab another set, 29-27.
ODU led 13-9 in the third set, but the Herd fought back yet again with a 4-0 push. The Monarchs strung together a late 4-0 run to go up 24-18, but Marshall would not go away as the home team rattled off six-straight points for yet another tie. Atilano assisted Maggi to put ODU ahead 25-24, but the next three points went to Marshall as the match came to an end.
Atilano recorded her third double-double in as many matches with 41 assists and 10 digs. The senior from San Diego, California also made two blocks, served one ace and added one kill to her totals. Conway paced the attack with 20 kills, made three blocks and had seven digs. Munari also scored in double figures with 13 kills and finished with eight digs and two blocks. Maggi served two aces, Lowery contributed five blocks with as many kills, and Kate Kilpatrick ended up with 12 digs.
The match featured 23 ties, 13 of them in the second set, and seven lead changes. ODU edged Marshall in points (61-54), kills (48-46), aces (4-1), blocks (9-7), assists (46-44) and digs (49-47). However, the Herd outhit the Monarchs, .270 to .162.
Following Friday's match, the all-time series remains tied at 4-4.
Up Next
ODU will be back on its home court next weekend as the Monarchs host Sun Belt East Division foe Georgia Southern on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29-30.
Monarchs Fall in Straight Sets Friday, Split Sun Belt Series at Marshall
