JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team reversed the tables on Morehead State Saturday night in a thrilling five-set win that avenged an earlier five-set loss to the Eagles when the two team met up in Morehead, Ky.
Four Gamecocks donned the red and white for the final time at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday, and they proved they wouldn't go out without a fight. The win improved JSU to 22-11 overall and 8-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference where they now own sole possession of fifth-place in the league standings with one weekend remaining.
"I could not be more proud of this team right now," said head coach
Terry Gamble following the enthusiastic victory that cemented JSU's spot in the mid-November conference tournament. "I;m especially proud of Ally (Zuhlke) and Hannah (Kirk) for making big plays when we needed them this most. All of our seniors played big tonight in a special match."
A night after surpassing 1,500 career kills, Allyson Zuhlke blasted 21 more and hit .318 to lead the JSU attack. Senior classmate Charis Ludtke followed her with 11 kills to go along with seven digs and a pair of service aces. The offense distribution was even between senior Jennifer Hart and sophomore Rachel Perucki who each dished 22 assists. On a night when the veterans shined, senior libero Hannah Kirk led the team with 20 digs.
Mackenzie Rombach posted a team-high five blocks for the defense that at times carried the Gamecocks who hit above .120 in just one of five sets. Kaylee Frear added eight kills and three blocks.
Jax State let a 21-16 advantage slip away in the opening set, falling 25-23. But the Gamecocks responded with a 25-23 set win in the second after Zuhlke notched three kills following a 21-21 tie.
JSU gained momentum in the third when it finished on an 8-2 run to pull away late for the 25-20 win. The fourth set was even at 14, before MSU used a 4-0 run to grab a late advantage which the Gamecocks could not come back from. JSU fought back to within two at 24-22, but were forced to play a fifth set for the seventh time in 14 OVC matches.
The decisive fifth started point-for-point, before JSU's 3-0 run from a 6-6 deadlock gave the Gamecocks a slim cushion after the changeover. MSU cut the deficit to one on three separate occasions with the last time at 12-11, before kills from Ludtke and Rombach all but sealed the match.
JSU wraps up its home portion of the 2017 season with a 12-1 mark, tying the 2009 team that went a perfect 12-0 at home, in wins. The Gamecocks will conclude the regular season next weekend in Nashville, Tennessee, with matches against Belmont and Tennessee State. From there, JSU will see how the conference race shakes out and determine its opening opponent in the OVC tournament.
