Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GRAND FORKS, N.D., - Beginning their next-to-last tournament before conference play, the Jacksonville State volleyball team  suffered a couple of tough losses on the opening day of the University of North Dakota's 2015 Volleyball Classic.

The Gamecocks (4-5) fell to South Dakota, 3-0 (21-25, 10-25, 22-25), in their first match of the day before a 3-0 setback to Wisconsin-Green Bay (24-26, 16-25, 18-25).

Despite a strong start, JSU dropped the opening set of the day to South Dakota, 25-21. The Gamecocks held a 16-10 advantage before a 7-1 USD run tied things up at 17. USD took the lead for good at 21-20 on a kill from Audrey Reeg. The Coyotes had five more kills in the first set despite JSU having a higher hitting percentage.

The Coyotes started the second where they left off in the first set, jumping out to an 11-3 lead. JSU could never recover falling 25-10.
The Gamecocks were in an early hole again in the third, attempting to come back from trailing 17-11, JSU made it 21-16, and eventually pulled within two, 23-21, following a kill by senior Emily Rutherford. However, USD closed out the set and match with a 25-22 win.

Freshman Kim Krutsinger set a new career-high with seven kills versus the Coyotes. Sophomore Allyson Zuhlke led the Gamecocks with nine.

In the mid-day match against Green Bay (5-3), JSU was again unable to hang on to an early lead resulting in a sweep for the Phoenix.

The Gamecocks built a 9-2 lead to begin the match, but fought the remainder of the opening set to hold the advantage. The Phoenix climbed within one, 21-20, when a serve error cushioned the Gamecock lead, but not enough. Green Bay tied the match 23-23 and took its first lead on the following point en route to a 26-24 set victory.

The second was point-for-point through the first half. JSU held a one-point advantage until a 7-0 Green Bay run propelled the Phoenix to a 20-14 lead. A margin that would not be closed as Green Bay took the set 25-16 for a 2-0 match lead. In the third and final frame, Green Bay hit .351 and finished the match with a 25-18 win.

Lydia DeWeese led the Phoenix with 15 kills and a .542 attack percentage.

For the Red and White, Rutherford finished the day with 20 kills followed by Zuhlke with 18 and sophomore Charis Ludtke with 17. Sophomore setter Jennifer Hart paced the offense with 57 assists on the day. Defensively, sophomore libero Hannah Kirk had 28 digs, 18 coming against Green Bay.

The Gamecocks continue play in the UND Classic tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. with a match against Drake, followed immediately by another game against the host school, North Dakota at noon. Live stats are available at JSUGamecockSports.com.