Dukes Take Down Towson in Four

Saturday, September 29

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

12-3, 4-0CAA

Towson

6-11, 1-3CAA

TOWSON

James Madison

9/29/2018 10:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score @JMUVolleyball Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison volleyball achieves their best start in Colonial Athletic Association play since 2015 after downing Towson, 3-1 (25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 25-20) Saturday evening in Sinclair Gym.

The Dukes (12-3, 4-0 CAA) came out of the gates hot, dominating in the first set then taking the second, but the Tigers (6-11, 1-3 CAA) delayed the JMU win with a third-set victory.

Senior Bryn Recker and redshirt junior Kelly Vahos notched a team-leading 11 kills apiece. Junior Sarah Martin led the match with 43 assists as well as three service aces, all of which came during a 9-0 run during the first set. With 20 digs, junior Sarah Driscoll led the match while junior M'Kaela White put up a match-high nine blocks.

MATCH NOTES
- Recker produced her 11th double-double on the season after 11 kills and 11 digs in tonight's victory. Martin also had a double-double performance with 43 assists and 10 digs.
- Briley Brind'Amour added 10 kills to JMU's effort for her eighth match on the season with double-digit kills.
- Also with 10 kills, White posted a .400 attack percentage while Vahos' .417 attack percentage led the Dukes.
- Taylor Gail tailed a .316 hitting percentage with eight kills on 19 assists and only two errors.
- Martin's three service aces set a new season high for the setter. She was one shy of matched her current career high.
- Tilbe Yaglioglu and Driscoll produced two service aces apiece while Jacqui Koebel and White each slated one.
- As a squad, the Dukes outshined the Tigers, producing nine aces to the Tigers' four and throwing up 12 blocks to Towson's six.
- JMU hit a commanding .458 attack percentage in the first set, taking the frame with a 10-point advantage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- A Towson service error jumpstarted a 9-0 run for JMU, where three Martin service aces, two kills from Recker, a Vahos kill and a huge block from Gail and Recker took place. This cemented the lead with which the Dukes closed out the first set.
- Early in the second frame, the Dukes had two five-point runs, but a 7-0 Towson run brought the Tigers back into contention. With the Tigers at set point and the Dukes down by two, a Towson service error, a White kill, a Tiger attack error and a Brind'Amour/White block paved the way for a second-set win for JMU.
- The teams stayed close to each other in the third set, but at 21-all Towson prevailed, closing the fourth on a 5-1 run.
- The Dukes took the lead early on in the fourth and, though the Tigers brought the score within one, JMU sealed its victory with a 5-1 run capped by a Recker kill.

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road for their first away CAA competition of season, traveling to Elon on October 6. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.