NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State volleyball team made a big move in solidifying its spot in the postseason conference tournament with a 3-1 road victory at Tennessee State on Saturday.
 
The Gamecocks (15-13, 7-7 Ohio Valley Conference) rallied to win three-straight sets after the Lady Tigers (8-17, 6-8 OVC) took the opening set of the day. With two matches remaining in the regular season, JSU currently sits sixth in the league standings, but could omprove as high as fourth with a pair of wins to finish the year.
 
The offense was powered by redshirt-sophomore Sadie Anderson's career-high 16 kills. The Phoenix, Ariz., product added 13 kills for a double-double, to go along with two service aces. Sophomore Kaylie Milton and senior Mackenzie Rombach made it a trio of Gamecocks in double figures as they finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. For Rombach, it moves her career total to 985, just 15 shy of the 1,000 Club.
 
Just one kill shy of reaching double-digits was junior Shayla Schmidt, who tallied nine kills in just three sets after being inserted in the second after TSU stormed back late in the first. It marked a career-high for the Peoria, Ariz., native who previously recorded five kills twice during her freshman season in 2016.
 
Sophomore setter Lexie Libs continued her hot string of dishing the ball, finishing the day with 45 assists to go along with her 10 digs joining Anderson with a double-double of her own. She also led Jax State getting in on four blocks, just ahead of Rombach who turned away three attacks.
 
JSU struggled in the opening set, falling behind 5-0 to begin the match. After overcoming the early deficit, the Gamecocks built and 20-14 advantage, but were unable to close it out as TSU battled back to even things at 24, before winning 28-26 in extras.
 
The second set looked to be heading in a similar direction as head coach Todd Garvey called for time with the Gamecocks down 10-4. From there, JSU tied the frame at 13-13, and continued on for a 25-19 win to even the match at a set apiece.
 
The third game rarely saw separation between the two squads until JSU pulled away from a 20-all deadlock after forcing the Lady Tigers into three consecutive hitting errors. Milton provided a late kill to set JSU up at with set-point, leading to a crucial 25-22 win.
 
The Gamecocks built a 14-9 in the fourth, but a 6-0 run for TSU handed the lead back to the home team. Jax State responded later with a 7-0 run of its own to grab a late 22-16 advantage, and held on for the 25-19 matching-clinching decision.
 
The Gamecocks will make their final regular-season road trip next Wednesday to face their travel partner Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn., on Wednesday night. The following Saturday, Jax State host Southeast Missouri on November 10 for Senior Day.