Dukes Cruise to Third Straight Sweep, Down Tribe 3-0

Wednesday, October 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

13-9 (5-4CAA)

William and Mary

6-18 (2-7CAA)

William & Mary

James Madison

10/22/2014 8:54:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - The James Madison volleyball team held William and Mary to a .000 attack percentage as it cruised to its third consecutive sweep, downing the Tribe 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-11) at Sinclair Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

Junior outside hitter Meghan Niski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) continued her stellar run of play as she knocked down 12 kills for JMU (13-9, 5-4 CAA), her fourth straight double-digit effort, on a .500 attack percentage, the highest of any Duke this season with at least a dozen kills. Sophomore outside hitter Janey Goodman (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) also racked up 12 kills, while junior libero MacKenzie Kleespies (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) picked up 20 digs, giving her 12 straight matches in double-digits and nine matches with 20 or more digs this season.

In the first set, William and Mary jumped out to a 3-1 lead and maintained its advantage until a 6-1 JMU run put the Dukes up 12-10. The Tribe would come back to tie the match at 13, 14 and 15, but the Dukes launched into a 10-1 run, including eight kills and an ace, that closed out the set at 25-16.

The Tribe jumped out to an early lead in the second set as well, picking up the first four points. After a JMU timeout, however, the Dukes reeled off five in a row to take back the lead. After William and Mary tied the match at 5-5, JMU took the advantage for good with a 7-2 run, then gradually expanded its lead until a 4-1 run gave the Dukes the set, 25-17. Niski paced the offense in the frame with five kills, while the Dukes held William and Mary to a -.033 attack percentage.

JMU finally got a set off to a good start in the final frame, jumping out to a 5-2 lead and not looking back. With the Dukes up 7-5, they ran off an 11-2 run to go up 18-7 and put things out of reach for good. Goodman racked up five kills in the run and JMU was able to close out the set at 25-11.

"This team has really come together," Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher said. "They've let go of the pressure and are just playing really well together. I also think our blocking has gotten a lot better, but I think the big thing is just everyone playing together as a unit and playing for each other and that's made a huge difference for us."

The Dukes' defense was stellar on the evening, as the Tribe's .000 attack percentage represents the lowest of any of the Dukes' opponents this season. Senior middle blocker Lizzy Briones (Siloam Springs, Ark./Siloam Springs) led the way with seven blocks, her fourth consecutive match with at least five. JMU also held William and Mary to a negative attack percentage in the final two sets en route to the victory.

The victory was JMU's 500th Division I win in program history, as the Dukes raised their record to 500-406 since moving to Division I in 1986. This is JMU's 29th season since the move.

JMU will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 24, when they head south to take on College of Charleston in a 7 p.m. bout.