JACKSON, Miss. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team wrapped up its stretch of nine-straight matches away from home to open the season with a 3-1 victory at Jackson State on Wednesday night.
 
The Gamecocks (6-3) took the tight match (25-21, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19) to spoil the Tigers home debut. Highlighting the intense contest were the performances of Mackenzie Rombach and Allyson Zuhlke who combined for 40 of JSU's 63 total kills.
 
Rombach, a junior from Ottawa, Ill., ser a new career-high with 17 kills, while Zuhlke matched her career best effort of 23 kills previously accomplished against Austin Peay in 2015. Rombach's previous best was 15 put-aways last season against Eastern Illinois.  
 
Senior Charis Ludtke posted 11 kills, while Hannah Kirk recorded a team-best 15 digs. Ludtke, Kirk and Zuhlke each played in their 114^th career match, tying them with North Dakota's Faith Dooley for most matches played among active Division I players.
 
JSU edges the Lady Tigers in the first set, coming back from a 21-19 deficit late. Placed in a similar situation in the second set, JSU attempted to rally from a 15-19 hole but came up short in extra points. The Gamecocks settled down following intermission to hit above .250 in each of the final two frames, while holding the home squad to just a .172 mark in the fourth and final game.
 
Directing JSU's offense which hit at a .288 clip, senior setting Jennifer Hart dished 51 assists. It marks Hart's first 50-plus assist match since 2015, prior to her injury-shortened season a year ago. Hart also recorded six digs, just ahead of Rachel Perucki and Madison Cooler with five.
 
The Gamecocks out-blocked Jackson State, 10-6, behind a team-high five blocks from Kim Krutsinger and three from Cooler and Zuhlke.
 
JSU will open the Jefferson's and State Farm Invitational on Friday with an 11:30 a.m. match against North Carolina A&T at The Pete. The Gamecocks will then play three more matches as part of the weekend tournament.