COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jax State volleyball split a pair of matches in the opening day of the Air Force Academy's Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic.
 
The Gamecocks bookended the day with a 3-2 win over Portland State in the first match of the day before dropping the final match of the afternoon 3-1 against the hosting Air Force Falcons.
 
"Great for our team to get their first win," head coach Derek Schroeder said. "Our freshman setter led the charge in set 4&5 to key the comeback. We showed some overall resiliency and fight in that first match."
 
Against Portland State, Jax State came out hot with a 4-0 scoring run early in the opening set forcing the Vikings to call a timeout with the score 8-3 in favor of the Gamecocks. Jax State rode that lead to a 25-22 win the first.
 
In the second, the Vikings flipped the script as they jumped out to a 16-9 advantage midway through the set. Portland State won the second 25-13. Portland State jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the third, but the Gamecocks went on a 6-0 scoring run to cut the Vikings' lead to 20-17 late. Portland State eventually clinched the third 25-20.
 
In the fourth set, Jax State led 15-11 at the media break. Out of the break, the Gamecocks scored four unanswered points leading to a Portland State timeout. Jax State won the fourth 25-20 to force a fifth set. The Gamecocks had to come from behind in the final set as they trailed 10-7 at one point. Jax State and Portland State traded blows before the Gamecocks clinched the fifth set 17-15.
 
Air Force downed the Gamecocks 25-11 in the first set, but Jax State answered with a 26-24 win in the second to even the match at one set victory apiece. In the third, the Falcons got up 18-10 to force a Jax State timeout before eventually winning the set 25-17. Air Force won the fourth 25-17 as well to take the match win.
 
"Air Force played very well and pushed us hard," Schroeder said. "Our young team was not ready to play at 6 p.m. and I have to be better there for them. Again, in set two we managed an impressive comeback and win, especially with how well Air Force was connecting. Just didn't have enough net presence to maintain it."
 
Jax State was led by Kayla Williams offensively in both matches. Williams had 19 kills against Portland State and 17 against Air Force. Freshman Sophia Schweikert had solid first couple matches as a Gamecock with 17 kills against the Vikings and 12 against the Falcons.
 
Schweikert's fellow freshman Charlee Solomon was impressive at setter with 38 assists against Portland State and 36 against Air Force. Luci Wilkinson led the Gamecocks in digs in both matches with 18 against the Vikings and 17 against the Falcons.
 
Jax State wraps up their time at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic Saturday against Seattle at 11 a.m. central.
 
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