JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team swept visiting UT Martin on Sunday night, 3-0, to continue one of the best seasons in school history with a 13-0 record heading into its final home match on Monday.
 
The Gamecocks' undefeated start to the year trails only Texas (20-0), Bowling Green (18-0) and Western Kentucky (16-0) for the most wins without a loss. Just 12 Division I programs remain undefeated as of March 21, but only seven have played at least 10 matches.
 
JSU's 25-19, 25-17, 25-20 win on Sunday dropped UT Martin to 5-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while JSU matched its OVC win total from 2019's 13-3 championship squad.
 
Junior Lena Kindermann showed her dominance once again with a team-best 14 kills on .345 hitting clip. She was joined in double figures by senior Kaylie Milton, who now has 10-or-more kills in four of her last six matches. The flurry of offense didn't stop with those two as Katie Montgomery hit .455 with six kills, while Addie Halverson, Courtney Glotzbach and Caroline Kasson each put down five kills. The offense was directed by senior setter Lexie Libs' 39 assists.
 
Sophomore libero Erin Carmichael finished one shy of a season-high with 23 digs, after UTM had 107 attacks in an intense battle. JSU out-blocked the Skyhawks, 5-2, as four Gamecocks, including freshman Sadie Brown, got their hands on stops.
 
Tied 11-11 in the first, Kindermann and Milton went back-to-back with kills, followed by an ace from Carmichael as JSU started a 7-1 run that would be the difference for the set. The two sides exchanged points until JSU took a 25-19 opening set win. In the second, It was an 8-2 run, powered with a trio of Milton kills, that broke an 8-all tie early. Up 24-14, JSU needed a few set points before putting the Skyhawks away, 25-17.
 
Kasson, Halverson and Anna Nelson each hit the floor early in the third as the Gamecocks have stayed true to exercising its depth all season. Freshman Macie Garrison would lift Libs midway through the frame to finish with five assists as JSU clinched the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
 
The Gamecocks will face UTM again on Monday at 4 p.m. for Senior Day in the final home match of the regular season. The contest will stream on ESPN+ with Mike Parris calling the action.