ERB LEADS JMU VOLLEYBALL PAST UNC ASHEVILLE, DAVIDSON

Saturday, August 28

Home

12:30 p.m.

James Madison University

2-0

UNC Asheville

0-2

UNC Asheville

JMU

8/28/2010 5:58:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HARRISONBURG, Va. Aug. 28, 2010 - Sophomore Danielle Erb (Tampa, Fla./Plant) recorded the first 20 kill performance in James Madison volleyball since 2007, in match two and added a double-double in match one to lead the Dukes to a pair of victories over UNC Asheville and Davidson in the JMU Coca-Cola Classic on Saturday.

JMU improved to 3-0, the first 3-0 start by the team since 2006, after winning all nine sets they played over the weekend. In Saturday's first match, the Dukes beat UNC Asheville by sets scores of 25-23, 25-15 and 25-13 before claiming the tournament championship with a 25-18, 25-19, 25-13 victory over Davidson.

"I'm very excited about our start," said head coach Lauren Steinbrecher. "I think the team is starting to realize how good they are and how good they can become."

In the night cap, Erb's 20 kill night was the first 20 kill performance by JMU since Allyson Halls (2004-07) recorded 21 against Northeastern on Nov. 10, 2007. She finished the match hitting .613 with 20 kills and just one error in 31 attempts. The 2009 Third Team All-CAA selection also had eight digs. Sophomore Natalie Abel (Washington, Pa./Trinity) just missed out on a double-double, finishing with eight kills, three blocks and 14 digs. Junior Holly Wall (Kaukauna, Wisc./Kaukauna) joined Erb on the All-Tournament and finished with a match-high 15 digs.

Christine Perzinski had a team-high seven kills and 12 digs to lead the Wildcats. All-Tournament selection Mason Benedict chipped in four kills, a dig and a block, while fellow All-Tournament honoree Jennifer Chamblee had 10 digs and an assists.

In the first set, Madison raced out to leads of 7-2 and 14-6, forcing Davidson to burn both of its timeouts. JMU extended its lead to as much as 22-11 before the Wildcats whittled the difference to five before a service error and an Erb kill sealed the victory. The Dukes outhit their opponents .158 to .103 and got a six kill, six dig performance from Erb.

JMU started set two in the same fashion it started set one, running out to 15-4 lead, including a 5-0 run on the serve of Abel. Again Davidson fought back to shrink the lead to five at 24-19 but the Dukes got another kill from Erb to take set two. Madison's defense limited the Wildcats to .029 hitting and converted 14 of 19 sideouts. Abel had a set high nine digs and chipped in three kills.

Set three remain close at the beginning with the team exchanging leads four times in the first 18 points. With their lead at 10-8, the Dukes won 11 of the 16 nine points to take a 17-10 lead before closing the match on a 5-0 run. Erb lead all hitters with seven kills on nine attempts (.778 hitting percentage) and Wall had a set-high four digs.

In match one of the day, the Dukes got a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs from Erb to defeat UNC Asheville 3-0. It was the 10th career double-double for the sophomor