Davis Sets JMU Blocks Record, Dukes Win Second Straight over App State

Saturday, September 23

Boone, N.C.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

9-4,2-0Sun Belt

App State

9-4,0-2Sun Belt

James Madison

App State

Davis Sets JMU Blocks Record, Dukes Win Second Straight over App State

9/23/2023 4:02:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. – Sophie Davis set a new school record for total blocks, and James Madison volleyball secured its second four-set victory in as many days over App State Saturday afternoon.

Davis, who came into the match tied with Lizzy Briones (2011-14) for the most total blocks in school history (495), notched her record-setting block in the first set. The fifth-year senior finished with seven total blocks in the win, which pushed her career total to 502. Davis also recorded eight kills and two service aces.

The Dukes won by set scores of 25-16, 15-25, 25-25, and 25-23 and improved to 9-4 on the season (2-0 Sun Belt). The Mountaineers slipped to 9-4 (0-2 Sun Belt) with their fourth straight setback.

Miëtte Veldman paced the Dukes offense with 17 kills and nine digs. In two games against App State this weekend, Veldman recorded 42 kills on 86 attempts (.337). Brenya Reid added 10 kills, five digs, and one block, while Jaydyn Clemmer picked up 16 digs.

App State's Denny McCall registered a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs to lead the Mountaineers. Ava Leahy notched six kills and four blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: JMU 25-16
The two teams traded points to open the match, but four straight points from the Dukes gave the visitors a 7-4 lead on a double block from Annie Smith and Rebecca Watkins. Davis recorded a block, the 496th of her career, which gave JMU a 12-8 lead. The Dukes broke open the set with a 7-0 run, which gave JMU a 19-10 lead. However, App State immediately responded with five straight of its own, but the Dukes closed another set strong as a 6-1 run gave JMU a dominant win in the first set.

Set 2: App State 25-15
The Mountaineers quickly opened up a 5-2 lead on consecutive kills from Lauren Pledger and didn't look back. Although the Dukes trimmed the deficit to two (7-5), App State scored seven of the next eight points, which extended the lead to 14-6 and forced a Dukes timeout. JMU attempted to climb back into the set with a 3-1 run which cut the App State lead to six (15-9), but the Mountaineers once again responded with a 6-1 spurt which extended the lead to 21-10. The Dukes scored three straight, capped off by a Julia McNeley service ace which made it 21-13, but App State quickly closed the door on the set on consecutive kills from Delanie Gravengood and Lulu Ambrose.

Set 3: JMU 25-15
Alex Kwasnik knotted the fourth set at 4-4 with a kill, and two more points gave the Dukes a 6-4 lead early in the third. After App State took back the lead (8-7), JMU took control of the set. Reid got it started with a kill, and back-to-back blocks from Sophie Davis followed by a Watkins dump set gave the Dukes a 13-8 lead and capped off a 6-0 run. After a Madilyn O'Toole service error, JMU scored three of four and extended the advantage to 17-10. App State trimmed the Dukes' lead to five (20-15), but JMU crushed any Mountaineer comeback hopes with five straight points, taking the third set in dominant fashion.

Set 4: JMU 25-23
The most competitive set of the match began with both teams trading blows early. The Dukes gained the first lead of the set on back-to-back kills from Reid, which gave JMU a 10-6 lead. That advantage would be short-lived as the Mountaineers brought the set to an 11-11 tie on a block from Ava Leahy. The Dukes jumped back ahead with a kill from Julia McNeley (16-13), and pushed the lead to four (19-15), which forced a Mountaineer timeout. App State responded out of the timeout with three straight points, which prompted a Dukes timeout. Despite never giving up the lead, App State cut it to one at 23-22 and 24-23 before Veldman finished off the Mountaineers with her 17th kill, which gave the Dukes the win.

UP NEXT
The Dukes return to Harrisonburg to play host to Texas State in a pivotal Sun Belt tilt. The Bobcats were picked as favorites in the Sun Belt West and notched a sweep against No.12 Houston on Sept. 2.