Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BIRMINGHAM – The Jacksonville State volleyball team finished its opening day at UAB's Tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Mississippi Valley State, following a loss earlier in the day to Ole Miss.
 
The Gamecocks (6-8) became only the third team this season to take the opening set from SEC foe, Ole Miss (12-1), but the Rebels rallied to come back and win the first match of the day. JSU bounced back Friday afternoon defeating Mississippi Valley State (1-10) in straight sets.
 
In the opening match of the day, the Gamecocks pressured a strong Ole Miss team before eventually falling, 3-1.
 
JSU rallied from a 23-20 deficit in the opening set to take six of the final seven points for a 26-24 come-from-behind win. The Rebels evened the match winning the second set, 25-15, after opening a quick 6-0 lead.
 
The Gamecocks battled throughout the match with close setbacks in the final two sets, 25-20, and 25-19. Senior Emily Rutherford and sophomore Allyson Zuhlke, both finished with 16 kills to lead offensively. Sophomore Charis Ludtke also was finished in double figures, with 10.
 
JSU turned its attention to the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State for the second game of the day. Three Gamecocks hit above .400, led by freshman Kim Krutsinger's .625 mark as Jax State powered past its Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent.
 
Following a 6-6 tie in the opening set, a 5-0 run, highlighted by a couple of kills from freshman Mackenzie Rombach, gave the Gamecocks a comfortable lead. Rutherford collected six of her team-high 15 kills in the opening frame as the Gamecocks hit .517 and powered past MVSU, 25-18.
 
It was another big streak, this time 8-1, in the second set that pushed Jax State out front, 20-11. The Gamecock defense, which featured five players with six or more digs, stifled MVSU's hitting to just a .059 attack percentage. JSU took a 2-0 match advantage with a 25-14 set victory.
 
In the final set of the day for the Gamecocks, Rombach recorded half of her career-best 14 kills leading JSU to 25-15 win. A one-point game early quickly turned in favor of the Gamecocks in similar fashion thanks to a 7-0 run which helped complete the sweep.
 
The Gamecocks resume play in the UAB "Fight Like Hal" Memorial Tournament Saturday. JSU plays UMass Lowell at 12:00 p.m., and will wrap-up the weekend taking on tournament-host, UAB, at 4:00. Live stats will be available for both matches, while the finale against the Blazers will feature video stream.