Dukes Clinch CAA Tourney Berth With 3-2 Win Over Delaware

Friday, November 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

15-11 (7-6CAA)

Delaware

13-15 (6-7CAA)

Delaware

James Madison

Dukes Clinch CAA Tourney Berth With 3-2 Win Over Delaware

11/7/2014 9:52:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Sophomore outside hitter Kate Whitmire (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) knocked down a career-high 19 kills to lead the James Madison volleyball team to a 3-2 (14-25, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9) win over Delaware at Sinclair Gymnasium on Friday night.

Junior outside hitter Meghan Niski posted her ninth double-double of the season with 17 kills, tying her career best, and 13 digs to lift JMU (15-11, 7-6 CAA) to the victory, as the Dukes clinched a berth in the CAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

Senior middle blocker Kelly Maguire (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) racked up 12 kills on just 17 attacks, dropping just a pair of errors to hit .588 on the evening, the highest attack percentage of any Duke this season with at least a dozen kills.

In the first set, the Dukes jumped out to a 6-3 lead, but four straight Delaware points kick-started a 14-4 run that put the Blue Hens up 17-11. After JMU called a timeout and snapped the run with a kill from Maguire, Delaware used an 8-3 to close out the set at 25-14.

JMU took an early lead in the second set, jumping ahead 3-1 and 7-4 before the Blue Hens closed the gap. The teams battled back and forth throughout, as they tallied eight ties before the Dukes took the lead for good at 20-19. That point started a 5-1 run that gave the Dukes a 24-20 lead, as they went into the break with a 25-22 win in the frame.

After the break, it was the Blue Hens' turn to jump in front, as they went up 5-2 on a run that included a trio of kills. JMU fought back immediately to tie things at 6-6 and the squads would trade points for much of the middle part of the set.

The Dukes would edge ahead, 18-15, on a kill from Whitmire, but the Blue Hens picked up two straight points to pull within one. After a service error from Delaware, JMU ran off four straight points to take the lead for good at 22-17 and, from there, would cruise to a 25-21 win.

The fourth set proved to be tightly-contested from the outset, with neither team leading by more than three until five straight Delaware points put the Blue Hens up 16-9, a lead they would eventually stretch to 22-13. At that point, the Dukes launched into a 9-1 run, including seven kills, to pull within one at 23-22, but Delaware was able to pick up a pair of kills to force a fifth set at 25-22.

JMU hit the gas pedal early in the decisive frame, roaring out to a 7-1 lead in front of a raucous cheering section. Delaware crept back, eventually pulling within four points, but the Dukes held off the charge, getting their last four points on kills to take the fifth set and the match at 15-9.

Defensively, the Dukes proved versatile, as junior libero Sierra Hahn-Ventrell racked up 28 digs, six more than her previous career high. Niski joined the junior in double-digits, her 14th such defensive effort of the year.

Senior middle blocker Lizzy Briones (Siloam Springs, Ark/Siloam Springs), who broke the JMU record for career block assists in her last outing, continued her climb up the record books with two solo blocks and four block assists.

She now sits tied for 10th in career solo blocks with 59, along with Allyson Hall (2004-07). She remains second in total blocks with 466, but is now just 19 behind career leader Kate Fuchs, who racked up 485 from 2001-04

"It's always great to get a win against a good Delaware team," Steinbrecher said. "I was very proud of the way our team battled and stay composed throughout the whole match. We're really excited to get back on the court against Towson and pay tribute to the seniors who have given so much to this program."

The Dukes will be back in action Saturday night, as they wrap up their 2014 home schedule with a 7 p.m. matchup against Towson. Prior to the contest, JMU will honor its four graduating seniors: Kristi Richardson, Kelly Maguire, Lizzy Briones and Martha Stewart.