Dukes Advance To Championship Match With Sweep Of Towson

Saturday, November 19

Wilmington, N.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

20-10

Towson

24-9

Towson

James Madison

Dukes Advance To Championship Match With Sweep Of Towson

11/19/2016 4:39:00 PM | Volleyball

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

WILMINGTON, N.C. – For the first time since 2002, James Madison volleyball will play in the Colonial Athletic Association championship match as the top-seeded Dukes swept No. 5 Towson in straight sets (25-19, 27-25, 25-22) in semifinal action inside Hanover Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Earning its first tournament victory since the 2014 season, James Madison improved to 20-10 on the season and extended its win streak to nine consecutive matches as Towson fell to 24-9 on the year.

Offensively, the Dukes were evenly matched as senior right side hitter Janey Goodman paced the way with 10 kills on 30 swings for a match-high .233 hitting percentage en route to breaking JMU's single-season kills record.

Outside hitter Bryn Recker added nine kills with a match-leading 15 digs. The sophomore added two blocks and an assists. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Kelly Vahos was strong off the bench with eight kills and two blocks for the Dukes. Sophomore setter Tilbe Yaglioglu garnered 20 assists and six digs to lead JMU to a .222 hitting percentage over the match.

The Dukes dominated at the net out-blocking Towson 14.0 to 3.0. Senior middle blocker led JMU's blocking attack with seven while Goodman added five. Junior libero Taylor Austin garnered 12 digs to round out the defense.

The opening stanza was a tight back-and-forth battle that featured six ties and two early lead changes between the Dukes and Tigers. With the Tigers leading 16-13, James Madison called a timeout that proved to be a difference marker as the Dukes fired off six consecutive points follow the break in action. With five blocks in the set and the offense attacking at a .375 clip, the Dukes pulled away with a 25-19 victory.

After trading early points, Towson pulled ahead in the second set to extend a four-point lead over the Dukes, 18-14. James Madison powered back with two blocks and two Goodman kills to lock the match up at 18-all. The Tigers continued to pressure and gained a 24-22 advantage to earn set point, but the Dukes fought off three straight points to lock the set up once more at 25-25 before two attacking errors by the Tigers secured the set for the Dukes.

JMU earned an 15-14 advantage in the third set after a Towson service error and never allowed the Tigers to pull closer than one point in the final stages of the set. With the advantage of four blocks in the final set, JMU earned a 25-22 with the biggest block of the day by seniors Goodman and Robertson to punch a ticket to the championship match.

QUOTING COACH STEINBRECHER
"We have a great group of girls. They are so fun to coach and be around, and they deserve this so much. I am proud of the way they came out an executed this afternoon. We thought all year that Towson was one of the best in conference. We knew they were going to come out and battle. They have some great seniors. We just wanted to play hard. They did a great job executing the scouting report. Every step was so close. It could have gone either way, but I am proud of our girls for finishing it."

PHOTO OF THE MATCH - VIEW FULL GALLERY

Blocking was a huge advantage for the Dukes in their sweep over Towson as JMU out-blocked Towson 14.0 to 3.0.

NINE STRAIGHT FOR THE DUKES
With the sweep of Towson, James Madison extended its winning streak to nine matches, its longest streak of the season. JMU's last loss came on the road in a five-set heartbreaker at Delaware on Sunday, Oct. 16. Topping Towson in straight sets, the Dukes earn their first tournament victory since 2014 when JMU edged Towson out in five sets in Charleston, S.C.

GOING TO THE 'SHIP
For the first time under the helm of Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher and for the first time since the 2002 season, James Madison advances to the CAA Championship match. That season, the Dukes suffered a five-set loss at the hands of George Mason in Harrisonburg. The Dukes last won the CAA Championship title in 2000.

PLAY OF THE MATCH

Janey Goodman breaks Lindsay Collingwood's single-season kills record with her fourth kill of the match.

GOODMAN SETS SINGLE-SEASON RECORD
With another double-digit kill performance, Janey Goodman continues her impressive senior campaign by shattering JMU's single-season kills record. The Powhatan, Va. native has garnered 513 over her final season as a Duke to surpass Lindsay Collingwood's record of 506 set in 1996. Goodman has shattered two additional single-season records this season. She holds program records with a 4.62 kills per set average and 1,258 attempts over the season.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

DUKES WIN! DUKES WIN! pic.twitter.com/nIdtfDocmk
— JMU Volleyball (@JMUVolleyball) November 19, 2016

UP NEXT
James Madison will face the winner of Saturday's second semifinal match between No. 2 College of Charleston and No. 6 Delaware on Sunday, Nov. 20 at noon in the CAA Championship match. Sunday's contest will be aired on the American Sports Network and will be streamed on CAA.tv.