Jax State
Nicholls
9/7/2022 9:41:00 AM | Volleyball
JACKSONVILLEÂ - Jacksonville State's volleyball squad is set to host three quality non-conference opponents this weekend at the Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Gamecocks will welcome Nicholls, Samford, and South Dakota State to Jacksonville as they take part in the 2022 Gamecock Classic this Friday and Saturday.
Friday's invitational will begin with a morning match at the Pete. Jacksonville State will take on Nicholls at 11 a.m. CST to open the event, and a showdown between South Dakota State and Samford will follow at 1:30 p.m. JSU will be back in action in the nightcap, as the Gamecocks meet South Dakota State at 7 p.m.
Action will continue Saturday morning. Nicholls and Samford will duke it out at 10 a.m. in Jacksonville, and the Colonels will play South Dakota State at 2 p.m. An intrastate showdown will conclude the Gamecock Classic when Jacksonville State faces off with Samford at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
Admission to the Gamecock Classic at the Pete Mathews Coliseum is free of charge. Games being streamed on ESPN+ include JSU's match against Nicholls at 11 a.m. Friday and their matchup versus Samford at 6 p.m. Saturday. Live stats are available for each of JSU's matches at JSUGamecockSports.com.
JSU (6-0) will look to build upon an historic start to their 2022 campaign after sweeping road tournaments at Indiana and Clemson. Their dominant opening to non-conference play marks their best such start to a season since joining Division I in 1995. To keep their streak alive, though, the Gamecocks will have to knock off some strong programs in their first home event of the year.
Coach Todd Garvey's squad is coming off strong showings, both collectively and individually, at Clemson. As a team, the Gamecocks hit .221 in the Clemson Invitational while allowing a hit percentage just north of .150. Fifth year Katie Montgomery, who took home Invitational MVP honors, hit .434 with 29 kills, 14 blocks, 11 digs, and seven service aces in that tournament at Jervey Gym. Graduate transfer Claire Ochs and senior Erin Carmichael were also All-Tournament selections. Ochs had 121 assists (9.31 per set) and 26 digs in Clemson while Carmichael finished with 49 digs (3.77 per set) and nine assists.
On the year, Jacksonville State is hitting .257 and allowing an opposing hit percentage of .125. Fifth year Lena Kindermann leads the team with 81 kills (3.68 per set), just ahead of Montgomery's 56 (2.55 per set). Redshirt sophomore Courtney Glotzbach and graduate transfer Sophie Riemersma have 43 and 40 kills respectively through six matches. Senior Kylee Quigley is tops on JSU's squad with 11 aces and Carmichael leads the team with 80 digs. Ochs' 230 assists (10.45 per set) and senior Zoe Gonzales' 25 blocks are the most in those categories as well.
Jax State is 4-0 all-time against Nicholls and 19-11 versus Samford. Their meeting with the Jackrabbits will mark the first matchup between the two programs. Last season, the Gamecocks swept the Gamecock Classic with three-set victories over Alabama State, Gardner-Webb, and Middle Tennessee State. Their last loss in a Gamecock Classic match came on Sept. 14, 2019, against Mississippi State.
