Cougar Rally Comes up Short in Five-Set Battle at JMU

Sunday, September 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:00 PM

College of Charleston

8-7,1-3CAA

at James Madison

9-3,3-1CAA

Col. of Charleston

James Madison

Cougar Rally Comes up Short in Five-Set Battle at JMU

9/26/2021 4:07:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. --- The College of Charleston volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force a decisive fifth frame but was unable to complete the reverse sweep in a 3-2 setback to James Madison on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association play.

After James Madison (9-3, 3-1 CAA) claimed the first two sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-20, Charleston (8-7, 1-3 CAA) countered with set victories of 25-20 and 25-19 to force a fifth set. The Dukes rode a hot start in the fifth by scoring the frame's first eight points and held off a late Cougar charge to win the set and the match, 15-10.

Critical Point
After Charleston won the third and fourth sets to send the match to a decisive fifth frame, James Madison scored the first eight points of the set to jump out to an early 8-0 lead. The Dukes would hold the Cougars at arm's length for the remainder of the set to deny the reverse sweep.

Key Cougars

Junior Gabi Bailey paced the offense with 14 kills while adding nine digs and three blocks.
Lexi Wierzbicki and Anna Smith chipped in 11 and 10 kills, respectively, after Smith accounted for seven of the Cougars' 13 kills in the opening frame.
Jasmin Goei came in at setter to start the third set and dished out 26 assists to go along with seven digs.
Senior Molly Russell finished with nine kills and a .421 hitting percentage. Four of her nine kills came on just five swings in the fourth frame.
Sophomore Rebecca Olariu recorded a season-high 21 digs – including eight in set four – in her second straight start at libero.

Game Notes

The Cougars finished the day with a 54-50 edge in kills but trailed James Madison in hitting percentage, .151 to .113.
Charleston and James Madison combined for 23 blocks with the Dukes holding a 16-7 advantage. James Madison recorded seven of its 16 blocks in the opening frame.
The Cougars held the Dukes to five kills and a -.058 hitting percentage in the fourth set.

Up Next
The Cougars will return to the court next Saturday, October 2 against William & Mary. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.