JACKSONVILLE – At times it wasn't pretty, but the Jacksonville State volleyball team fought off visiting Morehead State to begin 1-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play on Friday night.
 
The Gamecocks (11-8, 1-0) have now won their conference home-opener four years in a row dating back to a home loss to Southeast Missouri in 2012. The win also snapped a three-game losing-skid to Morehead State (4-10, 0-1) which swept JSU a season ago.
 
Junior Allyson Zuhlke tallied a team-best nine kills on a night where no Gamecocks reached double figures in kills. Sophomore Mackenzie Rombach was just behind her with eight, and added six blocks and a key dig in the final set to lead the all-around efforts for JSU. Combined, Jax State's offense struggled hitting sub .100 for the match. Freshman setter Rachel Perucki did her best to generate scoring chances dishing 25 of JSU's 38 assists.
 
JSU had 10 players play in all four sets with Hannah Kirk, J'nae Fraser and Ashley Clingan locking down the back row throughout the night. Kirk finished with 21 digs, her fifth 20-dig performance of the season, while Clingan dug out 10 balls, just one off her season's best. Fraser and freshman Sadie Anderson each recorded eight digs.
 
Jax State controlled the opening set, taking an 18-9 lead following a kill from freshman Kaylee Frear, one of her seven on the evening. The Eagles climbed back within five, 23-18, but were unable to threaten beyond that point as JSU secured a 25-20 victory.
 
The second set saw Morehead return the favor claiming an 11-3 lead early, and not allowing the Gamecocks to ever make a game of it. Despite hitting in the negatives throughout the first two frames, Jax State was able to take a 1-1 match tie into intermission.
 
The pivotal third set turned when a 4-0 run by JSU broke a 17-17 deadlock, and forced MSU to call timeout. The Eagles regrouped and fought-off four consecutive set points to eventually take a 25-24 lead. A fortunate break saw MSU miss serve on set point to give the Gamecocks new life. Once MSU took a 26-25 lead, Zuhlke came through with a powerful kill to tie the set again, followed by Anderson with a put-away to give the Gamecocks the lead. Another MSU error sealed the set, 28-26.
 
In the fourth, JSU trailed 14-13 when the Gamecocks reeled off seven-straight points while Kirk was back serving. JSU led 24-18, but struggled to put away the visitors a final time as MSU staved off another four match points before falling, 25-22.
 
"It's just nice to get this first win to open conference play," said JSU head coach Terry Gamble. "I liked how we responded in some tough situations, but we can do a better job in the future."
 
"We'll celebrate this one tonight, but we know another good team (Eastern Kentucky) comes in here tomorrow and we have to be ready to go again."
 
JSU welcome the EKU Colonels for a 2 p.m. afternoon match on Saturday. Admission is free to all fans, and live stats will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com for those unable to attend.