Cougars Trek North for CAA Showdown With JMU

Saturday, September 25

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:00 PM

College of Charleston

at James Madison

9/24/2021 2:18:00 PM | Volleyball

JMU Match Notes (PDF)

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CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The College of Charleston volleyball team will look to get back on track in Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend with a trip to Harrisonburg, Va. to take on league rival James Madison on Saturday and Sunday. First serve for both matches is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Sinclair Gymnasium.

The Cougars suffered a pair of 3-1 setbacks to Elon to begin their league schedule last weekend. James Madison edged Delaware in a pair of five-set thrillers to open its conference slate.

QUICK HITTERS

Charleston's serving corps has been amongst the best in the nation this season with the Cougars entering the week ranked 10th nationally in total service aces (90).
Junior Gabi Bailey has accounted for 24 of the Cougars' 90 aces thus far which ranks ninth nationally and second in the CAA. The Cougars are 6-2 this season when Bailey records at least two aces.
Sophomore libero Sammy Campion has been integral to the Cougars' success defensively this season entering the week ranked second in the league with an average of 4.84 digs per set. She has recorded at least 20 digs in five matches including three straight coming into the weekend.
Senior middle blockers Molly Russell & Claire Campbell have emerged as one of the most efficient attacking duos in the CAA this season and entered the week ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in the league in hitting percentage. Russell is averaging 1.71 kills and 0.69 blocks per set while attacking at a .341 clip; Campbell comes into the weekend averaging 1.92 kills and 0.98 blocks per frame in addition to a .303 hitting percentage.
Bailey and fellow junior Lexi Wierzbicki lead the charge on the attacking side of the net for the Cougars averaging 3.10 and 2.53 kills per set, respectively. Bailey has accounted for six double-doubles thus far and enters the week riding a six-match streak of double-digit kills. Wierzbicki has put down at least 11 kills in seven matches this season including a season-high 17 in a five-set win over Howard on Sept. 03.
Charleston has climbed to third in the CAA in digs per set averaging more than 15 per frame this season. The Cougars have recorded at least 60 digs in five of their last six matches including an 80-dig performance in a 3-1 win over Florida A&M on September 11.

SCOUTING THE DUKES

James Madison carries an 8-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in CAA play into the weekend.
The Dukes rank second in the league in both team hitting percentage (.233) and opponent hitting percentage (.180). James Madison is also third in the CAA in blocks per set (2.34).
Sophia Davis enters the weekend third in the CAA with a .371 hitting percentage and ranks third on the team with an average of 2.82 kills per set.
Miette Veldman and Julia de Sa are both averaging more than three kills per set with clips of 3.67 and 3.06, respectively.
Savannah Marshall leads the back row with an average of 3.71 digs per set while Veldman carries a clip of 2.29 digs per frame.
Davis also ranks second in the league averaging 1.26 blocks per set.

QUOTABLE
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete this weekend. It will be a tough challenge going on the road but the team has put a lot of hard work into this week's preparation. I feel like we will compete hard and give ourselves the ability for success. Any road win in the CAA will definitely be hard fought and well earned." – head coach Jason Kepner