Dukes Sweep Weekend with Triumph over VCU

Sunday, September 10

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

7-2,0-0Sun Belt

VCU

3-5,0-0Atlantic 10

VCU

James Madison

9/10/2023 5:29:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Brenya Reid tied her career high with 13 kills as James Madison volleyball closed the Erie Invitational with a four-set win over VCU Sunday afternoon.

The Dukes improved to 7-2 on the season with set scores of 19-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-23. VCU dropped their third game of the weekend and slipped to 3-5. With the win, JMU improved to 43-36-1 all-time against the Rams.

Despite a .214 hitting percentage, three Dukes finished with double digit kills. Along with Reid's 13, Senior Miëtte Veldman recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 13 digs, and Sophie Davis also tallied 12 kills and six blocks. Jaydyn Clemmer picked up 16 digs and three service aces.

VCU, who only hit .172, also had three players finish with double-digit kills. Kialah Jefferson (11), Jasmine Knight (10), and Parker Hartzell (10) led the Rams attack.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: VCU 25-19
The visitors jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead on consecutive JMU errors. An attacking error and a kill via Elizabeth Helmich pulled the Dukes to 7-5, but the Rams jumped back ahead 12-5 with a five-point run. The Dukes tried to pull closer, but VCU held on for a comfortable win in the first set.

Set 2: JMU 25-14
JMU flipped the script in the second set, as a 4-0 run which included two Rebecca Watkins aces gave the Dukes a 7-1 lead. Sophie Davis recorded a solo block to stretch the lead to 11-3, and forced a Rams timeout at 14-5. The Dukes were never threatened the rest of the set as the hosts evened up the match at 1-1.

Set 3: JMU 25-22
Back-to-back service aces from Veldman gave JMU an 8-5 lead early, but the Rams quickly evened the set at 9-9 on a Anja Kujundzic service ace. Either team was able to pull away until VCU used a 7-0 run to open up a 19-14 lead. They saw that lead quickly evaporate as the Dukes stormed back in the set. JMU forced the first VCU timeout on a Jaydyn Clemmer service ace. Reid tallied three consecutive kills of her own to give the Dukes a 22-21 lead and forced another Rams timeout. A second ace from Clemmer gave the Dukes a 23-21 lead, and JMU closed the set on a 9-1 run to take command of the match.

Set 4: JMU 25-23
A similar script played out in the fourth as VCU jumped ut to a 5-2 lead on three Dukes errors. They would see their lead disappear again as JMU tied the set at 9-9 on a Rams attacking error. The teams battled back and forth through the middle of the set, but VCU held a 16-13 lead midway through the set. Another timely JMU run (6-1) shot the Dukes ahead 19-17. The Rams got to within one point (23-22), but JMU was able to close out the match on Reid's 13^th kill of the match.

ERIE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Avery LePore – New Hampshire
Kelly Kaufmann – New Hampshire
Jolei Akima – Cal Poly
Parker Hartzell - VCU
Sophie Davis – James Madison
Rebecca Watkins – James Madison

MVP: Sophie Davis – James Madison

Match Notes

Bre Reid tied her season-high in kills with 13 which she did vs. Colgate on Sept. 2. She also tied her season-high in points (14.5).
Miëtte Veldman notched her second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 13 digs. The senior from Daleville, Va., leads the Dukes in kills (115) through nine games and sits at 990 career kills.
Annie Smith made her season debut in the second set, where she recorded one kill.
With six total blocks in the match, Sophie Davis tied Kate Fuchs (2001-04) for second most in school history (485).

UP NEXT
The Dukes travel to Pittsburgh next weekend to square off with two top-10 foes. JMU will face No.6 Oregon on Friday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m., and No. 9 Pitt on Saturday at 7 p.m.