JMU Opens Season with Pair of Wins at JMU Classic

Friday, August 25

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:30 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0

Gardner-Webb

0-1

Gardner-Webb

James Madison

8/25/2017 3:09:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Match 1 Box Score Match 2 Box Score Match 1 Photos Match 2 Photos

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison volleyball began the 2017 season with a pair of wins at the JMU Classic, claiming a 3-0 victory over Gardner-Webb in the opener, followed by a 3-1 triumph against Sacred Heart on Friday at Sinclair Gymnasium.

MATCH ONE NOTES

The Dukes won 3-0, taking the sets 25-16, 25-19, 25-16.
Sophomore Briley Brind'Amour had a team-high 13 kills.
Reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Year Taylor Austin made 27 digs.
JMU held the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 0.054 attack percentage.

MATCH TWO NOTES

The Dukes won 3-1, claiming the match by set scores of 26-24, 25-19, 19-25, 25-16
Sophomore M'Kaela White registered a career-best 13 kills
Junior Bryn Recker led three Dukes in double-digit kills, with 15, while redshirt sophomore Kelly Vahos added 10 kills.
JMU had 13 total blocks, led by White's career-best seven. Junior Taylor Gail contributed six blocks in the win.
The Dukes limited Sacred Heart to a -.087 hitting percentage in the fourth to seal the match

QUOTING COACH STEINBRECHER
"I'm always excited for us to get two wins, especially at home," Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher said. "I was really impressed with Sacred Heart tonight. I thought they played a great match. Their outside hitters are really crafty and good at tooling, and I was really pleased how our team responded. It was a good experience to get pushed and be able to come out on top."

OPENING SUCCESS
JMU has won four consecutive season openers.

CAREER NIGHT FOR M'KAELA
After turning in six kills in the opener, M'Kaela White produced her best night statistically in the Sacred Heart win. The sophomore had 13 kills, besting her previous high of 9, while also getting in on seven blocks, beating her previous best by two.

DAY ONE LEADERS
On the first day of the JMU Classic, JMU hit .267 as a team, while holding Gardner-Webb and SHU to a combined .118. Bryn Recker had 20 total kills, while Briley Brind'Amour and M'Kaela White each had 19. Of JMU's 104 digs in the two wins, Taylor Austin tallied 40 of them.

SERIES NOTES

JMU improved to 2-0 all-time against Gardner-Webb
The Dukes are now 2-0 all-time versus Sacred Heart

UP NEXT
JMU closes its opening weekend by taking on Rider at 1:30 p.m. at Sinclair Gymnasium. That will be preceded by Gardner-Webb and Sacred Heart. JMU's match can be heard live on MadiZONE HD SportsNet Audio.

PHOTO OF THE DAY - View JMU-GW photo gallery View JMU-SHU photo gallery
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