Dukes Pull Away from Colgate, 3-1

Friday, September 1

University Park, Pa. / Rec Hall

4 p.m.

James Madison University

3-1,0-0Sun Belt

Colgate

2-3,0-0Patriot

James Madison

Colgate

9/1/2023 7:04:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Behind 10 blocks and six service aces, James Madison volleyball opened the Penn State Invitational with a four-set win over Colgate Friday evening.

With the win, the Dukes improved to 3-1 on the season, while Colgate dropped to 2-3.

Miëtte Veldman led JMU with 17 kills, which was tied for the match lead. She also added nine digs and hit .405. Brenya Reid, who was limited last weekend due to injury, provided a boost to the Dukes' offense, as she tallied 13 kills.

As a team, JMU finished with 10 blocks, the third time in four games the Dukes have finished with double-digit denials. Sophie Davis and Alex Kwasnik each recorded five blocks apiece to pace the JMU defense. Through four games, Davis' 20 blocks and Kwasnik's 18 are the top two totals on the team.

Jaydyn Clemmer (13), Julia McNeley, (12), and Madilyn O'Toole (10) all recorded over double digit digs, while Rebecca Watkins finished with nine. Watkins added 44 assists and seven kills to continue her torrid stretch to open her career. Through four games, she is averaging a robust 10.80 assists per set.

The duo of Carlie Rzeszotarski and Milan Bayless led Colgate on offense. Rzeszotarski finished with 17 kills, while Bayless tallied 15. Sophie Thompson accrued five blocks and seven kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: JMU 25-21
After the two teams traded points to open the set, a kill from Kwasnik and back-to-back blocks opened up a 9-6 lead for the Dukes. JMU maintained their lead through the middle of the set, as a kill from Elizabeth Helmich pushed the lead to 18-13, which forced a Colgate timeout. The Raiders pulled to within two (23-21), but a subsequent service error and a solo block from Sophie Davis gave JMU the first set.

Set 2: JMU 25-23
The second set played out much like the first, with either team able to pull away from the other early on. After a Davis kill tied the set at nine, kills from Colgate's Gillian Hauschild and Milan Bayless gave the Raiders an 11-9 lead. Right on cue, the Dukes responded with two points of their own on a Colgate service error and termination from Veldman. Thanks to two service aces from Rebecca Watkins, the Dukes opened up an 18-13 lead. Colgate immediately responded, with three consecutive kills from Rzeszotarski to pull the Raiders to within 18-16. Colgate trimmed the deficit to one on multiple occasions, but the Raiders fell in another close decision.

Set 3: Colgate 25-22
It was more of the same to open the third set, as both teams traded rallies to open the scoring. After working the set to 8-8, the Raiders pulled ahead with four straight points. However, JMU responded quickly with five points of their own to force a Colgate timeout. After the Dukes held a slim 14-13 lead, the Raiders used another run to pull ahead 19-16. Once again, JMU responded with three straight points to even the set once again at 19. The teams remained deadlocked through 22-22 before three straight kills from Colgate helped them force a fourth frame.

Set 4: JMU 25-19
The Dukes jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth on a Davis kill, but a service ace by Colgate's Sophie Thompson tied the set back up at 6. Once again, the two sides fought back and forth for multiple points, before two attack errors and a kill by Veldman gave the Dukes a 14-11 advantage. The resilient Raiders clawed back to tie the set at 17 on a kill from Gillian Hauschild. However, In a match of runs, JMU closed the game on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a service ace by Hannah Roberts to give the Dukes a 22-19 lead. Overall, JMU closed the set scoring five straight points to put away the Raiders.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will continue their stay in Happy Valley, tomorrow, as the are set to face No.22 Western Kentucky at 11 a.m. The game can be streamed on Big Ten Plus. Colgate, after dropping matches to the Hilltoppers and JMU on Friday, will take on Penn State at 2 p.m. in their third and final game of the weekend.

Brett Beecham
Communications Assistant
(VB, SB)
James Madison University
(C) 402-237-2210