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.