Udeh, Fergus Lead Marist to a Home Opener Win

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Behind a career game from Sophomore Chidera Udeh and a strong performance from Junior Megan Fergus, Marist won its home opener against Army 3-2. Udeh had 14 kills and four blocks, both career highs. Her hitting percentage was an astonishing .722. Fergus finished her day with 14 kills and five blocks and was seemingly part of every momentum swinging play.

SUMMARY

Marist was aggressive in the first set, get 16 of its points from kills and three from service aces. Udeh already hit a new career high in the first set alone, finishing with five kills. The set was close with no team leading by more than three points. Sarah Austin sealed the 25-23 set win by scoring three consecutive points. At 11 apiece in the second set, Army went on a 6-0 run to shift momentum of the set in their favor. Army proved to be the more aggressive team in that set, hitting 13 kills compared to Marist's seven. The Red Foxes could not find their groove and fell 25-16 in set two. Army took control early and never relinquished it in set three. Kills from Fergus and Nikki DeSerpa kept the game within three points early on but the Black Nights took a 17-10 lead and eventually won the set 25-19. Looking at defeat, the Red Foxes went into set four with grit. The set started even with both teams trading points to tie it up at five all. But Fergus, Udeh and DeSerpa all landed kills and Marist took advantage of ten attack errors from Army to blow up the lead and force a set five. Marist took the lead early in the set but Army would equalize at nine, forcing a timeout. Fergus landed a kill to get the Red Foxes to set point and an Army attack error gave Marist the set win at 15-13.