Marshall won the first game, 30-19, but fell to Tulsa in game two in overtime, 34-32. The Herd came back to take game three, 30-24, but fell again in extra scoring in the "win by two to 30 points" format of rally scoring, 32-30. No one should have been surprised when the fifth game of the match, which can be won at 15 points, would see both teams with a chance to win. The Golden Hurricane, however, would pull out the upset win in the final, 21-19, over the Herd, who finishe 23-9 on the season after winning the regular season title and the quarterfinal against East Carolina.
Kelly-Anne Billingy led the Herd with 33 kills in the match and had a double-double with 13 digs. The 33 kills are the sixth most in a single match for Billingy, Marshall's all-time kills leader in a match, season and career. Stephanie Cahill had 17 kills and 11 digs for her tenth double-double of the year, but also recorded 12 attack errors. Fellow senior Maggie Arias led the team with 25 digs, while the fourth senior, Uche Ndubisi - who missed the ECU game with a 103 fever, added nine kills and five digs. Junior Jalicia Ross, recruited with the four but just a junior after having to take an injury red-shirt, had 18 kills in the match. Freshman setter Elizabeth Fleming had 73 assists in the match and a double-double with 13 digs.
For Tulsa, now 26-8, Fabiola Nepomunceno had 31 kills to lead the Golden Hurricance. TU had five players with double-figure kills and Malorey Grove led them with 19 digs. They will face a UAB team that upset Tulane, who along with Marshall may still have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament when the brackets are announced next week.