JMU BREEZES PAST UNC WILMINGTON 3-0 IN VOLLEYBALL

Saturday, September 16

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

6-5, 2-2CAA

UNCW

5-8, 0-4CAA

UNC Wilmington

James Madison

9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Saturday, Sept. 16 - Junior libero Jena Pierson (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison) recorded 31 digs (10.33 digs per game) as James Madison University swept UNC Wilmington 3-0 in Colonial Athletic Association volleyball in JMU's Sinclair Gymnasium.

JMU (6-5, 2-2 CAA) downed UNCW (5-8, 0-4 CAA) by game scores of 30-15, 30-19, and 30-23. The Dukes never trailed from start to finish and faced just three ties during the match. JMU had 13 team blocks, just one shy of the season-high, which was recorded in a five-game loss at Towson.

In the first game, JMU led 13-10 when it forced an attack error and Pierson took serve. She started the Dukes on an eight-point run to take a commanding 21-10 lead. JMU never looked back in taking game one 30-15. Pierson had 12 digs in the first game.

Game two saw JMU take control from the beginning with freshman Nicole Fenner (Duluth, Ga./Wesleyan) putting together an eight-point service run to go up 10-1. The Dukes took game two 30-19 with Pierson again tallying 12 digs.

UNCW was able to keep game three closer. JMU led 11-9 and then pushed the margin to 16-9, only to see the Seahawks close it to 20-19. JMU reeled off another run, scoring six straight points, and never looked back in picking up the 30-23 win in the final game.

Pierson earned her second 30-dig performance of the season. Her previous high of 36, which is also a career-high, came in a five-game loss to Rutgers. It was the most digs by a JMU player in a three-game match this season. She raised her conference-best digs average to 6.33 digs per game.

Senior Hanna Porterfield (Arlington, Va./Bishop O'Connell) matched her season-high with 12 kills, the third time this season she has reached that total. Fenner had seven kills with a .385 attack percentage along with three assists, 11 digs, and two solo blocks. Sophomore setter Lauren Miles (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Prep) had five kills, 36 assists, two aces, seven digs, and three blocks.

Senior libero Dorinda Petrisko (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Westminster Academy) had 14 digs to lead UNC Wilmington. Junior setter Jill Hoeck (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) had 16 assists and eight digs. Freshman Liz Hanna (Davis, Calif./Davis) had a team-high six kills f