JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team increased its home win-streak to nine matches dating back to last season, with a 3-1 (25-18, 21025, 25-15, 25-20) win over Murray State Friday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks (18-8, 4-3 Ohio Valley Conference) matched their season win total from a season ago, while taking down the reigning conference champion Racers. MSU fell to 12-7 overall and now holds and identical 4-3 mark in league play.
 
The win was the first for JSU over the perennial power since 2013, and in the process checked the final box for a senior class that has now defeated every other conference member.
 
"I thought this was our most complete match of the year," said JSU head coach Terry Gamble afterwards. "We have a lot of quality girls who step up when it's needed, I felt Kim (Krutsinger) came in and got a big block for us in four when we needed a play. I'm proud of the effort this team gives every time we step on the floor."
 
Senior Charis Ludtke put away the final kill of the night to finish with a team-best 14, and added four blocks to JSU's 16.5 total. Freshman Madison Cooler was the only other Gamecock to finish with double-digit kills, recording 10 kills and 13 digs as part of her second career double-double.
 
The strength of the Gamecocks came on the defensive side of the net with a 12.5 block difference in the match. Junior Mackenzie Rombach led the way with seven blocks for the third time this season, followed by Kaylee Frear and Allyson Zuhlke each with six to create a front that the Racers couldn't find an answer for. MSU hit just .076 for the match.
 
JSU began to make its move in the opening set following a kill from Frear to make it 12-8. The Colorado Springs, Colo.. native finished with five big kills on a .308 attack percentage. With the game still in question at 23-17, Frear sent another ball down to set the Gamecocks up with set-point. The second stanza would be the only time the Racers hit above .200 as they fought back to even the match at a set apiece heading into the break.
 
 In the third, Cooler had three aces in a span of four serves as part of a 7-0 run for JSU to pull away from a 6-6 deadlock. The lead would grow to as many as 10 at 22-12, before JSU finished the set at 25-15. Jax State finished off the match victory without needing to go five for the first time in three matches. JSU's largest lead in the fourth frame was at 19-13, a tight battle throughout, but the Racers never led after starting down 0-2.
 
After consecutive home matches against Belmont and Murray State, JSU will be tested once again on Sunday afternoon when the league-leading Governors of Austin Peay arrive at The Pete for a 2 p.m. first serve. Admission is free and live stats will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com.