Four-Set Fight Seals Dukes' Conference-Opening Win

Thursday, September 20

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

9-3, 1-0CAA

Northeastern

7-7, 0-1CAA

Northeastern

James Madison

9/20/2018 10:33:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score @jmuvolleyball Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After a first-set stumble, James Madison volleyball used the next three sets to propel to its first Colonial Athletic Association victory of 2018 over Northeastern, 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23), Thursday night in Sinclair Gymnasium.

The Dukes (9-3, 1-0 CAA) made their comeback in the second set, hitting .583 and never looking back. Though they kept close behind, the Huskies (7-7, 0-1 CAA) couldn't regain a lead.

Junior M'Kaela White led the Purple and Gold with 14 kills and a .500 attack percentage while junior Sarah Martin's 42 assists led the match. White and redshirt junior Kelly Vahos registered a match high of six blocks – a career high for Vahos. Senior Bryn Recker notched a team-high 12 digs.

MATCH NOTES
- Recker gave her eighth double-double performance on the season adding 11 kills to her 12 digs.
- Vahos rounded out the Dukes' double-digit kill players, notching 10 as she accumulated a .450 hitting percentage.
- Six different athletes recorded blocks on the game: White (6), Vahos (6), Taylor Gail (4), Recker (2), Martin (2) and Briley Brind'Amour (2).
- With six kills on 13 attempts and only two errors, Martin slated a .308 attack percentage.
- Tilbe Yaglioglu added two service aces in tonight's efforts and leads JMU with 13 on the season.
- In addition to hitting a .583 in the second, the Dukes also had no hitting errors during the set.
- This is the eighth consecutive conference opener that the Dukes have won. The last time JMU played NU in a conference opener was 2005 – the Dukes picked up the win in a four-set fashion.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kicking the second set off with the 3-0 run, the Dukes never allowed the Huskies more than two consecutive points in the set, holding the advantage throughout.
- After tying the third set at 10-all, the Huskies jumped ahead by four after finding a run. A kill from Vahos began a 5-1 JMU run to keep the Dukes in it. The Dukes sealed the third-set win courtesy of a 7-2 run.
- The Huskies jumped ahead to an early lead in the final set, holding the edge as both squads reached double digits. An 8-1 run including spikes from three separate players cemented the lead that the Dukes would hold until victory.

UP NEXT
After taking a day off, the Dukes jump right back into CAA play, hosting Hofstra on September 22 at noon before battling Delaware the following day in the 'Burg.