COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team passed its first test of the season in league play sweeping Tennessee Tech on the road Thursday evening inside the Eblen Center.
 
Senior Allyson Zuhlke had an explosive night finishing with 18 kills to lead the offense. Fellow senior Charis Ludtke put away 14 swings, while junior Mackenzie Rombach had 13 kills. JSU hit .272 for the match as Jennifer Hart dished 30 assists and Rachel Perucki recorded started 13 successful attacks. Hart also finished with a team best 16 digs, just ahead of Hannah Kirk with 13.
 
With the win, JSU's won its conference opener for the second-straight year, and third time in the past four seasons.
 
JSU grabbed its largest lead midway through the first at 17-13 forcing a timeout from the home Golden Eagles. Tech would fight back to even the match at 20, and eventually reached set put leading 24-23. Cooler recorded back-to-back kills in the clutch to help JSU continue the frame. Rombach broke a 25-all deadlock with a kill down the middle as JSU went on to steal the first, 27-25.
 
The second stanza proved to be just as tight. JSU overcame a 7-4 deficit to tie the set, but later trailed by three again at 14-11. The Gamecocks broke through to the lead at 16-15 and built a 21-17 lead during a 10-3 run.
 
JSU came out of the intermission with a plan of finishing the contest in straight sets. The Gamecocks climbed out to an 18-11 advantage, and later reached match-point at 24-15. However, Tech fought off multiple final point attempts before falling 25-19 in the end.
 
JSU remains on the road this weekend traveling to Southeast Missouri for a 2 p.m. match on Saturday.