Volleyball Comeback Falls Short at UNCW

Saturday, October 23

Wilmington, N.C.

4 P.M.

James Madison University

12-5,6-3CAA

UNCW

3-17,2-7CAA

James Madison

UNCW

10/23/2021 7:15:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – James Madison volleyball fought to force a fifth set, but was defeated at UNCW by a score of 3-2 (24-26, 24-26, 25-21, 26-24, 10-15) on Saturday.

JMU dropped to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while UNCW improved to 3-17 on the season and 2-7 in league play.

Sophomore Miëtte Veldman led the Dukes with a season-high 24 kills on a .392 hitting percentage, while junior Sophia Davis added a career high 22 kills and hit .600. Junior Caroline Dozier set a career high 56 assists, reaching the 1,000 assist mark in her JMU career.

This is JMU's first five-set defeat of the season, as the Dukes are 5-1 in such matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
UNCW jumped out to an early 12-6 advantage, but the Dukes quickly closed to within a point at 14-13. While keeping the set within reach, JMU was not able to tie the set until a Dozier ace deadlocked the score at 24. However, the Seahawks won the set 26-24 by taking the final two points.

Second Set
The Seahawks once again held the early lead, but the Dukes eventually took the lead at 13-12. UNCW regained a three point advantage at 22-19, before JMU answered by taking five of six to force a set point at 24-23. However, the Seahawks won the final three points of the set for a second consecutive 26-24 victory and a 2-0 match lead.

Third Set
Unlike the first two sets, James Madison took charge early, gaining a 13-9 lead before the Seahawks closed to within a point at 15-14. The Dukes held on to their slim lead the rest of the set. A Veldman kill and Dozier ace propelled JMU to a 25-21 win to extend the match.

Fourth Set
The fourth set featured 11 ties and five lead changes, and no team led by more than three. Down 18-15, the Dukes won six of seven points to flip the deficit into a 21-19 lead. UNCW then tied the set twice, including fighting off two set points to even the score at 24. A kill by sophomore Elizabeth Helmich and an ace by senior Savannah Marshall gave the Dukes a 26-24 victory and tied the match 2-2.

Fifth Set
The two sides traded points until UNCW went on a decisive 8-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. The Dukes fought off a pair of match points, but the Seahawks' lead was too much to overcome, as UNCW won the match with a 15-10 set five victory.

UP NEXT
JMU looks to bounce back in tomorrow's rematch with the Seahawks. First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET and the match will be streamed on FloSports.