Box Score JACKSON, Miss. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team put the brakes on a five-game skid Wednesday night defeating Jackson State in a tight five set match (27-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-27, 15-11) inside the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium.
The Gamecocks improved to 5-7 winning the battle of the JSU's, while the Lady Tigers dropped to 0-12. It was the first five-set match of the season for the Gamecocks.
Four Gamecocks finished with double-digit kills led by sophomore
Charis Ludtke with 19. Senior
Emily Rutherford posted a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs. Sophomore
Hannah Kirk had the most digs for JSU with 21. In the longest match thus far for Jax State, sophomore setter
Jennifer Hart dished 46 of the team's 55 assists.
The opening set was tight early as the teams traded points back-and-forth. Following a 10-10 tie, Jackson State built a 21-15 advantage, but a 7-2 rally by the Gamecocks tied the set at 22. Still, the visiting JSU didn't take the lead until, 24-23; eventually closing out the win, 27-25.
Jax State took the lead to begin the second set and steadily increased the margin until reaching a set-high, seven-point advantage at 18-11. The Gamecocks fended off a late surge by the Lady Tigers to win 25-20 taking a 2-0 match lead.
JSU was unable to complete the sweep despite jumping out to a 7-3 lead which forced the Lady Tigers to call for time to regroup. Jackson State came back to tie the set at 10, and take the lead for good at 16-15. Trailing 24-18, the Gamecocks' 4-0 spurt was too little, too late as the Gamecocks fell 25-22 forcing a fourth set.
Closing out the win would prove tough for the Gamecocks as the fourth set would be no different from the ones that preceded it. Both squads fought virtually point-for-point. The set tied at almost every point following a 10-10 tie. The Gamecocks served at match point leading 25-24, but the Tigers won that point and the next two serves to win 27-25.
In the fifth and final frame it was once again the home Tigers that took the initial lead. The Gamecocks evened the score 5-5 before the teams resumed exchanging serves. Ludtke's kill to push Jax State ahead, 12-11, led to a 4-0 run that sealed the set and match for the Gamecocks.
JSU takes part in its final pre-conference tournament this weekend in the UAB Tournament in Birmingham. The Gamecocks open with two games on Friday taking on Ole Miss at noon, followed by a match against Mississippi Valley State at 4:00.
