NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the heels of a disappointing finish on Friday night letting a 2-0 match lead slip away, the Jacksonville State volleyball team responded in the biggest way by handing the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion, Belmont, its first league loss of 2016.  
 
JSU's 3-1 win was the first home loss for the Bruins in over a year dating back to September of 2015, snapping a 12-match home win-streak. It also marked the first time JSU has beaten Belmont since the school joined the OVC in 2012. The outcome evened the conference records between both schools as the two sit at 3-1 in the OVC.
 
The Gamecocks (13-9, 3-1 OVC) were led offensively by junior Allyson Zuhlke's 11 kills. Junior Charis Ludtke hit .400 and posted nine kills and had three blocks in a big day, while freshman Sadie Anderson came close to a double-double also with nine kills and eight digs. Setter Rachel Perucki did secure a double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs. 
 
JSU opened a 4-1 lead to begin the match and nearly held the margin throughout the first as the host Bruins (9-5, 3-1 OVC) were only able to tie the score twice, including at 16-16. Out of a JSU timeout, the Gamecocks went on a 3-0 run immediately forcing a timeout from Belmont's bench. BU closed the gap to one, 21-20, but Jax State held on to take the set 25-22.
 
In the second, was just as tightly contested with nine ties and four lead changes, but the Bruins edged out to a 22-19 advantage late and evened the match with a 25-23 decision.
 
In their most explosive hitting set of the afternoon, Jax State hit .310 in the third and had the home team doubled up at 12-6. The atmosphere slowly changed from that point as the visiting Gamecocks tacked on point-after-point building up to a 21-10 advantage. The Bruins rallied to close the gap late, but it wasn't enough as JSU took a 2-1 match lead.
 
Again in the fourth, the Gamecocks simply took control early grabbing a 7-2 lead. Facing a rare home defeat, BU made it a four-point contest at 16-12, but that would be the final surge as JSU responded again and again each time the Bruins tried to rally.
 
JSU out-hit the home squad, .237 to .110 and as has become the norm, led the blocking matchup, 15-7. Sophomore Mackenzie Rombach was responsible for nine blocks, setting a new career best topping a previous high of eight against Air Force and ULM earlier this season. Freshman Kaylee Frear, who recorded eight kills, was just behind Rombach with six rejections.
 
"I could not be more proud of the way we bounced back," said Terry Gamble. "I thought the girls came out with a desire that I have not seen all year long. I told them after the game that if we play this hard and this focused every day, we have a chance to be pretty good."

"I want to make sure I recognize Charis (Ludtke), because I thought she did a really nice job and did exactly what I hoped she would do in a really big match. On top of that I thought our ball-controll and defense was huge. It was a complete team effort."

Jax State returns to Tennesee next week for a mid-week road contest at Tennessee Tech on Wednesday night. The Gamecocks are in the midst of a run where seven of eight matches are away from Jacksonville.