Double-Doubles lift Dukes to 3-1 Win Over Northeastern

Friday, October 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

15-3 (5-0CAA)

Northeastern

4-16 (1-4CAA)

Northeastern

James Madison

10/9/2015 10:53:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison volleyball team defeated Northeastern 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 25-27, 25-19) in Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher's 100th career win Friday night. The Dukes improved to 15-3 (5-0 CAA), while the Huskies fell to 4-16 (1-4 CAA).

Junior Janey Goodman and senior Meghan Niski led the Dukes, earning their eighth and fourth double-doubles of the season, respectively. Goodman tallied 10 digs and a team-high 20 kills, while Niski produced 13 kills and 12 digs. Senior setter Sarah Patterson controlled the JMU offense with a season-high 54 assists, while libero Taylor Austin had 19 digs on the night.

Madison took control early in set one, keeping the Huskies off the board for the first five points, but the Huskies eventually knotted things at 14-14 with a 6-2 run of their own. The Dukes jumped back ahead over the next three points, picking up a pair of kills from Goodman, who also combined on a block with Hanna Radhi to put the Dukes ahead 17-14. JMU maintained the lead the rest of the way to claim set one.

In set two, the Dukes started with another early lead, earning seven of the first nine points. The Huskies would come back and take their first lead when an 8-1 run made it 21-19, but JMU would later close out the second set with three kills from Goodman.

Early in the third set, a kill by Northeastern's Cherylain Dizon started a 11-3 run that put the Huskies up, 11-5. JMU later rallied for seven straight points to take the lead at 16-15, but Northeastern would eventually close the frame out at 27-25 with a 7-3 run.

Scoring stayed close in set four with the Dukes and Huskies notching their 12th tie of the frame at 14-14. The Dukes broke away with a four point run that made it 17-14 and would allow just five more points in the set. Taylor Austin ended the match with an ace, JMU's eighth of the contest.

Quoting Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher
"I think serving is the thing that we do best. We can go back there and confidently serve aggresive. N ot many teams in the country have more aces than errors and we continue to go back there and get teams out of system."

Hundred Wins History
Lauren Steinbrecher is in her sixth season at the helm of the Dukes beginning in 2010. Steinbrecher had success early leading JMU to 22-2 record in her first season winning both the JMU Coca-Cola Classic and the JMU Days Inn Invitational. Another twenty win record came in 2011 claiming titles at the Days Inn Invitational and the High Point Classic and advancing to the CAA semifinals ending with a 20-11 record. Steinbrecher lead the Dukes to back-to-back 13 win seasons in 2012 and 2013 followed by a 17-14 record in 2014. She has coached 15 All-CAA honorees and a Virginia Sports Information Directors Player of the Year in 2011.

Photo of the Game

Senior Spotlight
Outside hitter Meghan Niski recorded double-doubles in three of the last four games. She also had a season-high 16 kills in the 3-0 sweep over Elon Saturday October 3. Niski has posted a.344 or better hitting percentage in the last four games with a minimum of 10 kills.

Looking Ahead
JMU hosts defending CAA Champions Hofstra Sunday, October 11 at 2 p.m. Hofstra is currently 5-1 in the CAA coming off a 3-0 loss over Towson Friday night. The Dukes are currently in first place in the CAA followed by the Pride in second.