COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team captured its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season Tuesday night with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 12-25, 25-22) victory in the Eblen Center on the campus of Tennessee Tech.
 
Jax State (8-11, 1-2 OVC) had players at all positions post big numbers in the road win at TTU.
 
Senior Emily Rutherford had 18 kills to set a season-best mark while leading the Gamecock offense. The Georgetown, Texas, native also recorded 15 digs as one of five players who finished with double-digit digs. Sophomore libero Hannah Kirk led defensively with 21 digs, followed closely by sophomore Charis Ludtke (18) and freshman Ashley Clingan, who doubled her previous career-best to finish with 16. Sophomore Jennifer Hart recorded 10 digs, but her impact was felt best on the offensive side with 42 of JSU's 48 total assists.
 
Defense was a big key in the victory as JSU's front line was impressive all night. Freshman Mackenzie Rombach's career-high six blocks set the tone on that side of the net. Ludtke and freshman Allyson Zuhlke had four blocks each, while freshman Kim Krutsinger finished with three.
 
JSU trailed most of the early part of the opening set. However, following a 12-12 tie, the Gamecock attack turned up the heat and began to pull away. Rutherford had three kills and Hart dropped a couple of balls over the net for a pair of kills during a 7-0 stretch that pushed JSU ahead, 19-12. Zuhlke had two late put-aways giving JSU its largest lead, eight, and sealing the set win, 25-17.
 
The second set was also tight in the early stages with the teams exchanging serves. A quick 5-0 run gave Tech a three-point advantage which was quickly erased when the Gamecocks evened the set, 11-11. Where the offense carried Jax State down the stretch in the first frame, it was the defense in the second that came on strong. Once taking a 19-17 lead, JSU didn't allow the Golden Eagles any closer en route to a 25-21 win. Jax State won three of its final four points on blocks from Krutsinger, Ludtke, Rombach and Zuhlke.
 
Tech responded in a big way in the third. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an 8-2 lead before eventually climbing to a double digit advantage at 16-6. JSU hit under .100 while the home squad blasted a .300 mark as TTU ran away with the set, 25-12.
 
The fourth stanza began to shift toward the home team as well when the crowd favorites built a 14-9 lead threatening to send the match to a fifth set. Ludtke's kill sparked the comeback that tied the game, 16-16. The Gamecocks took the lead on the following point courtesy of a kill from Rutherford. Tech regained control, 21-18, before JSU rallied one last time for the come-from-behind 25-22 win.
 
JSU opens its home portion of the 2015 schedule Friday, Oct. 2, with a non-conference bout with Jackson State at 7 p.m. It will be the first event inside the newly renovated Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Gamecocks return to OVC action on Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against UT Martin. Admission is free to all JSU home volleyball matches.