Dukes Win Sun Belt Championship Match

Sunday, November 20

Foley, Ala.

2:00 p.m. EST (1:00 PM CT)

James Madison University

24-4,15-1Sun Belt

Texas State

24-7,14-2Sun Belt

Texas St.

James Madison

11/20/2022 5:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

FOLEY, Ala. – James Madison volleyball beat out Texas State 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21) in the Sun Belt Championship match to hoist the championship trophy and earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid on Sunday afternoon in Foley.

The Dukes improved to 24-4 while the Bobcats fell to 24-7. This is the first time JMU has reached 24 wins under head coach Lauren Steinbrecher and the most since the 1999 CAA Champion Dukes wrapped up their season 26-7.

Sophie Davis was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, recording 15 kills and five blocks. Caroline Dozier was also named to the All-Tournament team and tallied 45 assists. Miëtte Veldman recorded her 10^th double-double of the season, leading the match with 18 kills and 16 digs.

JMU out-hit Texas State .314-.273 and recorded nine aces to their two. The Dukes also led in blocks with 10 total.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The set started off even, but a 5-0 run gave the Dukes a 13-9 lead. JMU maintained their lead and a kill from Davis ended the set.

Second Set
The two teams went back and forth, tying it up at 7-7 and 18-18. The Bobcats extended their lead with a 4-1 run and evened out the match with two kills from Jada Gardner.

Third Set
The Dukes got off to a 4-1 start and maintained their lead for the entirety of the set. Aces favored JMU, who notched three. Texas State attempted to close the gap, but Veldman earned the final kill to put the Dukes up 2-1 in the match.

Fourth Set
Bre Reid started off hot in the fourth set to give JMU a lead. The Bobcats tied the set 19-19 but two quick 3-0 runs from the Dukes secured them the Sun Belt Championship title.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will find out their placement in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, November 27 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPNU.