Dukes Split Saturday Matches to Wrap Weekend

Saturday, August 28

Harrisonburg, Va.

12 P.M.

James Madison University

1-1,0-0CAA

VCU

1-0,0-0Atlantic 10

VCU

James Madison

8/28/2021 11:41:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 JMU-VCU Box Score JMU-ISU Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison volleyball closed out its opening weekend of play with a pair of matches on Saturday, as the Dukes fell to VCU in a 3-0 matchup early in the day before capping the evening with a 3-1 victory over Illinois State at Sinclair Gymnasium.

MATCH ONE
The Dukes dropped to 1-1 on the season in the day's first contest, with VCU handing JMU a straight-set (20-25, 17-25, 24-26) defeat. Sophomore Julia de Sa racked up 13 kills in the loss, while junior Chloe Wilmoth added 10 and senior libero Savannah Marshall tallied 12 digs.

VCU controlled much of the opening two sets, hitting .433 and .538 in the first and second frames, respectively. JMU fought back in the third set, holding the Rams to a .194 clip, erasing multiple deficits and taking a 24-23 lead, but VCU used a pair of blocks on the final two points to complete the sweep.

MATCH TWO
JMU rebounded in strong fashion in the nightcap, picking up momentum as the match went on as it moved to 2-1 on the year with a four-set (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16) win over Illinois State.

Four players notched double-digit kills in the victory, led by Wilmoth's 14. Sophomore Elizabeth Helmich tallied 12 of her own with a ruthlessly efficient .458 hitting percentage, while de Sa added 11 and junior Sophia Davis picked up 10.

Freshman Jaydyn Clemmer also posted her first career double-digit performance on the backline with 11 digs.

The two teams traded the opening two sets, with ISU taking a back-and-forth second set that saw both sides have two separate runs of four straight points. The Dukes began rolling in the third frame, however, taking an 11-6 lead with a 5-1 run and never allowing ISU to go back in front before prevailing 25-19.

The Dukes cruised in the decisive fourth set, storming out to a 6-2 lead and never relinquishing the lead, eventually going up 21-14 before closing the match out at 25-16.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will be back in action next weekend, traveling to Buies Creek, N.C. for matchups against Alabama State, host Campbell and North Carolina Central on Sept. 3-4. JMU will open the weekend against Alabama State at 11 a.m. on Friday.