JMU Prevails Over High Point in Five Sets

Saturday, September 14

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

4-3,0-0Sun Belt

High Point

4-4,0-0Big South

High Point

James Madison

9/14/2024 10:30:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior middle Annie Smith recorded a career-high 11 blocks to help lead James Madison escape with a five-set win (16-25, 25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12) over High Point on Saturday evening in non-conference volleyball in front of 544 fans inside the Convocation Center.

JMU (4-3) trailed 6-1 in the fifth set but won seven of the last nine rallies to take down High Point (4-4) in five sets for the second consecutive season. It is also the second straight match the Dukes have won in five after taking down UC San Diego on Thursday.

The defense was the story, as the Dukes finished with a season-high 21 denials and held the Panthers to a .153 hitting percentage. Melisa Ilter and Ayen Nhial each recorded eight blocks, both career highs.

Smith also finished with 10 kills (10-0-13, .769) as she finished with the first double-double of her career. Brenya Reid also picked up 10 kills, while Miëtte Veldman and Sarah Schnell recorded nine apiece.

Dylan Maberry and Kennedy Louisell paced the Panther attack with 19 kills apiece, with Maberry also collecting 15 digs. Arica Davis picked up nine blocks, while setter Hannah Hawkins totaled 40 assists.

How It Happened
First Set: High Point 25-16

High Point jumped ahead, forcing a JMU timeout with three straight points to take a 13-9 lead.
A dump set from Rebecca Watkins cut the deficit to one (13-12), but the Panthers gained control of the set with a 6-0 run.
HPU controlled the first set, hitting .308 and holding JMU to a -.074 hitting clip.

Second Set: James Madison 25-17

JMU flipped the script in the second, quickly grabbing a 9-4 lead on a block assist from Smith and Ilter.
An ace from Watkins pushed the Dukes' advantage to 10 (14-4), and High Point never got closer than seven points as JMU cruised to a victory to even the match at 1-1.
The Dukes silenced the Panthers' offense in the second, holding HPU to a .107 hitting clip and recording six blocks.

Third Set: James Madison 25-23

High Point jumped ahead 9-5 on an ace from Maberry, which forced a JMU timeout.
The Dukes stormed back with an 8-1 run, capping off the rally with an ace from libero Jaydyn Clemmer.
The Panthers used a 4-0 run to pull ahead 19-16, which prompted a JMU timeout.
With the set tied 22-22, an ace from Veldman and another dump from Watkins gave the Dukes a slim victory in the third game.

Fourth Set: High Point 25-21

High Point was the first to 15 as a block from Eve Wilson and Arica Davis gave the visitors a 15-10 edge.
Trailing by as many as six (19-13), the Dukes cut the deficit to one at 20-19 and 21-20 on a Veldman kill and attacking error, respectively.
The Panthers scored four of the last five points of the set to force a winner-take-all fifth.

Fifth Set: James Madison 15-12

It was all Panthers early in the fifth as the visitors quickly forced a JMU timeout with a 5-1 advantage.
A service error from Madilyn O'Toole gave the Panthers an 8-4 lead as teams switched sides.
High Point pushed its lead back to three (10-7), but the Dukes scored four straight to go ahead 11-10.
The Panthers scored two consecutive points, but JMU scored the last four points of the match to escape with the victory. A solo block from Smith, her 11th of the contest, secured the win.

Match Notes

JMU improved to 6-4 in five-set matches dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season.
The 21 blocks are the most in a match since recording 20 against Troy on Nov. 17, 2023.
The attendance of 544 is the sixth most in a match since moving to the Convocation Center in 2023.

Up Next
The Dukes take on Western Michigan tomorrow at 10 a.m. to close the Erie Insurance Invitational.