Dukes Drop Matches To Villanova And Stags To Open Fairfield Invitational

Friday, September 9

Fairfield, Conn.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

6-2

Villanova

4-3

James Madison

Villanova

Dukes Drop Matches To Villanova And Stags To Open Fairfield Invitational

9/9/2016 1:02:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 @JMUVolleyball Villanova Box Fairfield Box 2016 Schedule/Results

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Career performances by the freshmen class highlighted Friday's action as James Madison volleyball (6-3) dropped matches to Villanova (4-3) and Fairfield (6-4) inside Alumni Hall to open the Fairfield Invitational.

Freshman outside hitter Briley Brind'Amour tallied 19 kills over the Dukes' two contests, including a career-high 11 kills in the match against the Stags. Freshman middle blocker M'Kaela White also set a career-high for kills when she nothed nine against Fairfield.

The Dukes notched a victory in the first set, but Fairfield won three straight sets to take the match, 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 24-26, 17-25). The Dukes landed three consecutive points to open the set, taking a commanding 20-13 lead by capitalizing on Stag attacking errors. Fairfield fought off five set points, but senior right side hitter Janey Goodman delivered a kill to win the set, 25-22.

JMU and the Stags were locked at 22-all in a closely contested second set before the Stags used back-to-back kills and an error to lock the match at 1-all. The Dukes came from behind in set three to tie the set late at 23-all, but two late JMU errors allowed the Stags to win the set, 26-24. Fairfield capped the 3-1 victory by topping James Madison in the fourth set, 25-17.

Goodman led the Dukes with 12 kills and three block assists as Brind'Amour added 11. White and sophomore middle blocker Taylor Gail each chipped in nine kills. Sophomore setter Tilbe Yaglioglu garnered 28 assists with eight digs, while junior libero Taylor Austin picked up 13 digs, including her 1000th of her career.

The Dukes fell to Villanova in straight sets (20-25, 20-25, 19-25) Friday morning in the Dukes' opening contest of the Fairfield Invitational. JMU opened the set with a 5-1 run, but the Wildcats stormed back to lock the set at 10-all at the midway point, before using a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 14-0. JMU clawed back to lock the set at 16-all, but Villanova quieted the comeback, winning the set 25-20.

With the second set tied at 17-all, Villanova used an 8-3 to win the set, 25-20. The Wildcats opened the third set with three straight points, but JMU battled within one, 11-10, midway through the set before Villanova pulled away to complete the sweep, 25-19.

Goodman led the offense with 11 kills, while adding one ace, four digs and two blocks. Brind'Amour added eight kills against the Wildcats. Freshman setter Sarah Martin dished out 22 assists, while Austin headed the defense with 11 digs.

QUOTING COACH STIENBRECHER
"We played against two quality teams today, and we just didn't bring it. We are going to learn everything we can from today and be ready to go against another strong opponent tomorrow."

AUSTIN DIGS IT
Junior libero Austin etched her name into the JMU record book as she recorded her 1000th career dig in Friday's contest against Fairfield. The Ashburn, Va. native closed the match with 1,009 career digs as the libero ranks just outside the Dukes' all-time digs list. Patti Bucaria (1989-92) holds the 10th with 1,084 career digs.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

Congrats, Taylor!! https://t.co/uMfqIH6IrU
— CAASports (@CAASports) September 10, 2016

RECORD WATCH
Goodman continues to climb the JMU record book, closing Friday's action just four kills away from recording her 1,300th of her career. The Powhatan, Va. native is 10 kills away from taking sole possession of fifth place on JMU's all-time kills list. Allyson Halls (2004-07) currently holds the spot with 1,305 kills over her career as a Duke.

UP NEXT
The Dukes close out the Fairfield Invitational on Saturday afternoon when JMU faces Sacred Heart at 12:30 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.