ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team improved to 17-11 overall with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-19) win at Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday night.
The night was highlighted by junior Allyson Zuhlke recording her 1,000th career kill as a member of the Gamecocks. The Tomball, Texas, native became the 18th player in program history to join the 1,000 kills club and now trails 2014 teammate Nicole Merget who finished with 1,016.
Earlier this season, fellow junior Hannah Kirk became the 11th Gamecock to join the 1,000 digs club on Sept. 17 against Evansville. Both players took part in their 96th career game Tuesday night, having not missed a match, along with junior Charis Ludtke, in their three-year careers.
Freshman Kaylee Frear led the Gamecock attack with a .533 hitting percentage with nine kills on 15 swings. Junior Allyson Zuhlke, in a special night, had seven kills while a trio of Gamecocks, Mackenzie Rombach, Charis Ludtke and Sadie Anderson each had six. Freshman setter Rachel Perucki dished 21 of JSU's 31 overall assists, guiding Jax State to two sets of over .350 hitting.
Junior Hannah Kirk had a team-best 12 digs followed by Anderson (8) and J'Nae Fraser, who ended the night with six. Transfer Katie Will along with freshmen Abby Farr and Maddie Cloutier, saw entensive playing time in the road sweep. JSU out-blocked MVSU 9-5, led by Frear's five blocks and Mac Kenzie Rombach's three.
The Devilettes led 4-2 to begin the first set, but a 12-0 run with Ludtke at serve saw the Gamecocks propel ahead by double-digits. JSU later led 17-10, but closing the game on an 8-4 streak to claim a 25-14 win.
The Gamecocks got off to a faster start in the second quickly building an 11-5 lead and forcing an MVSU timeout. Schmidt and Frear had a pair of blocks to help the Gamecocks take the second, 25-15.
After hitting .360 and .394 in the first two sets, JSU struggled in the third as MVSU kept the score close throughout. What was a 17-10 lead was later a 22-18 advantage for the Red and White. Jax State held on for the 25-19 win to complete the straight-sets victory.
JSU returns home to host OVC-opposition Eastern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville this weekend. First serve against EIU is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday night, while the SIUE Cougars will take on Jax State Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is free to both home matches.
