Volleyball Blocks Past Marist, 3-1

Friday, September 2

Ithaca, N.Y.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

4-1

Marist

0-4

Marist

James Madison

9/2/2016 7:40:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score @JMUVolleyball Box Score 2016 Results

ITHACA, N.Y. – Powered by 14 total blocks, James Madison volleyball topped Marist, 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 25-19, 25-15), Friday evening at Newman Arena in the Dukes' opening contest of the Cornell Invitational.

JMU (4-1) dominated at the net, out-blocking the Red Foxes 14 to 3 and held Marist (0-4) to a .071 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Kelly Robertson led the block party with 11 total. The Dukes' 14 total blocks is the most in a single match since JMU tallied 20.0 against Towson on Nov. 11, 2014.

The Dukes opened the match with three straight points, but the Red Foxes closed the gap, 15-11, at the midway point of set one. JMU capitalized on Marist attacking errors to end the opening set on a 4-0 run to cap a 25-15 set victory. The Red Foxes stormed back in set two, topping the Dukes, 25-15, to even the match at the break.

After trading points in the early going of set three, Robertson delivered a kill to put the Dukes on top. JMU tallied a 6-0 run to take a commanding lead that it would not relinquish to win the third set 25-19, taking a 2-1 advantage in the match. The Dukes used four blocks in the fourth set to hold Marist to just nine kills to win the set, 25-15 and the match.

Senior right side hitter Janey Goodman led the Duke offense, tying her season high with 17 kills. Robertson added nine kills, falling just shy of the first Duke double-double of the season. Freshman Sarah Martin guided the dukes to a .252 attack percentage, dishing out 35 assists. Junior libero Taylor Austin rounded out the defense with 22 digs.

QUOTING COACH STEINBRECHER
"The match tonight was a great opportunity for us to continue to work on some of the details of our game and continue to get better against a quality opponent. I was really pleased with both Kelly Robertson and Janey Goodman tonight. We are hungry to get on the court again and continue to get better."

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Robertson tallied a career-high with 11 total blocks in Friday's contest, the most blocks by a Duke since sophomore middle blocker Taylor Gail recorded 10 at Hofstra a season ago. The Allentown, Pa. native leads JMU with 22 total blocks, averaging 1.38 per set. The Dukes have out-blocked opponents 44.5 to 24.0 to open the season.

UP NEXT
The Dukes close out the Cornell Invitational with a doubleheader slate Saturday afternoon. JMU faces the Big Red at 11 a.m. before battling Colgate at 5 p.m. James Madison will return to Sinclair Gym inside Godwin Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 21, hosting William & Mary to open Colonial Athletic Association action.