Box Score


JACKSONVILLE – Senior Nicole Merget put down 16 kill son just 19 swings to pace the Jacksonville State volleyball team to a sweep of Alabama State on Tuesday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks (16-11) hit .393 for the match in the 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-9) win, which ended a six-game win streak for the visiting Hornets (10-16). The win was the sixteenth on the season for the young Gamecocks, the most in a season since the 2010 campaign.
 
Merget, a middle blocker from Canton, Mich., led the Gamecocks in kills on the dominant .789 attack percentage. Freshman Charis Ludtke was second only to Merget hitting .467 with eight kills. Freshman Jennifer Hart dished a team-high 37 assists as well as recording 10 digs to lead the defense. Junior Emily Rutherford and junior libero Samantha Bohne each had seven digs.
 
The opening set was tight early with JSU holding a 12-10 advantage. A kill by freshman Allyson Zuhlke sparked a 13-1 run that saw the Gamecocks roll on to claim the first set. Merget got her hot night started with seven kills on a perfect 1.000 attack percentage.
 
The second set was the closest of the match. The set was tied 15-15 before the Gamecocks took the late edge. Ludtke had a standout set with four kills hitting .800 during the set.
 
With a 2-0 set lead, the Gamecocks opened the third set with a 16-4 en route to closing out the sweep. Merget, Zuhlke, Brianne Glidewell and Laney Torkelson all had prfect 1.000 hitting percentages in the final set.  
 
Jax State takes to the road for the next two weeks for Ohio Valley Conference play. JSU travels to OVC-leading Murray State Friday for a 7 p.m. match and then face Austin Peay in a 1 p.m. match Saturday afternoon.