James Madison Upsets Conference Leader Northeastern In Four Sets

Thursday, October 20

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

12-10 (4-5CAA)

Northeastern

17-6 (7-2CAA)

Northeastern

James Madison

James Madison Upsets Conference Leader Northeastern In Four Sets

10/20/2016 10:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score @JMUVolleyball Box Score 2016 Schedule/Results 2016 Statistics Photo Gallery Highlights

HARRISONBURG, Va. – With a strong defensive performance that included 16.0 team blocks, James Madison volleyball upset Colonial Athletic Association leader Northeastern 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 26-24, 25-17) Thursday evening inside Sinclair Gym.

The Dukes earned their fourth consecutive victory over the Huskies in Harrisonburg while snapping NU's six-match win streak. JMU improved to 12-10 overall with a 4-5 mark in league action as the Huskies fell to 17-6 and 7-2 in conference play.

Right side hitter Janey Goodman tallied her second consecutive match with 20 or more kill as the senior garnered a match-high 25 on a .407 hitting percentage while adding six blocks and six digs, defensively. Senior outside hitter Kate Whitmire joined Goodman in double-digit kills with 12. Sophomore setter Tilbe Yaglioglu recorded 20 assists, while freshman setter Sarah Martin garnered her team-best fifth double-double of the season with 19 assists and 12 digs.

Defensively, James Madison racked up 95 digs with four Dukes finishing in double figures led by junior libero Taylor Austin's match-high 28. The Dukes recorded its 12th match of the season with double-digit blocks as JMU out-blocked Northeastern 16.0 to 5.0. Senior middle blocker Kelly Robertson led the team with nine blocks as sophomore middle blocker Taylor Gail added six.

The Dukes opened the match with a block from Robertson and sophomore outside hitter Bryn Recker to score the opening point of the first set. JMU would never relinquish that lead, using a 4-0 run lead late to top Northeastern 25-18. NU took its first lead of the match to open the second set, but JMU used an attacking error by the Huskies to take a 2-1 lead. Northeastern tied the set at 10-all after a 5-0 run, but the Dukes pulled ahead with a block and a kill from Whitmire to cruise to a 25-19 victory.

James Madison fought off five straight set points to lock the third set at 24-all, but Northeastern landed back-to-back kills to notch its first victory of the night, 26-24. Northeastern capitalized on JMU errors to take a 14-11 lead over the Dukes in the fourth set before JMU went on a 13-1 run that featured four Goodman kills as the Dukes completed the come-from-behind victory, 25-17, to record JMU's fourth victory in league play.

QUOTING COACH STEINBRECHER
"I thought we came out very strong and executed at a high level in the first and second set. The fourth set I thought was pretty sloppy on both sides of the net, but it is truly exciting to come out with a win tonight. I'm really proud of our group. They are working so hard and are such a good team. Some times our conference record does not show that, but I know we are right there and are just as good as anybody else."

AUSTIN MOVES ON TO SINGLE-SEASON DIGS CHART
Racking up double-digit digs in all 21 of her appearances this season, Taylor Austin has moved on to JMU's single-season digs chart as the junior currently ranks tied for ninth with 425. Last season, Austin garnered the third-most digs in a single season with 525. Jena Pierson holds the JMU single-season record after recording 698 digs over the 2007 season. Austin currently leads the conference and ranks second in the nation with a 5.67 digs per set average, which is the third-highest, single-season mark in school history.

PHOTO OF THE MATCH - CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL GALLERY

Freshman Sarah Martin recorded her team-leading fifth double-double of the season in JMU's victory over Northeastern.

CAA STANDINGS

	Conference Record	Overall Record
Northeastern	7-2	17-6
Charleston	6-2	13-7
Towson	5-3	18-5
Hofstra	5-3	15-6
UNCW	4-4	14-6
James Madison	4-5	12-10
Elon	2-6	15-9
Delaware	2-6	8-13
William & Mary	2-6	8-13

TWEET OF THE MATCH

Dukes take down the first place CAA team ???? https://t.co/4re2Q8cXCP
— JMUSports (@JMUSports) October 21, 2016

UP NEXT
JMU remains at home for a two-match weekend tilt. The Dukes host Elon on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a 4 p.m. contest. JMU closes the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 23 hosting Hofstra at 1 p.m. Sunday's match is a designated "Gold Out" as the Dukes host a "Lace Up for Pediatric Cancer" match.