JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jax State volleyball bounced back from Thursday's loss to Jacksonville with a 3-1 triumph over the Florida A&M Rattlers Friday afternoon.
The Rattlers were up 20-16 in the first set en route to taking the set 25-20. In the second, Jax State was down 7-5, but following a timeout, the Gamecocks went on a 3-0 run to cut it to 9-8. Jax State jumped in front 13-11 near the midway point of the set and never looked back.
FAMU went on a late 3-0 run to force a Gamecock timeout with the Red-and-White leading 23-19 late. Jax State scored two quick points to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 second set victory.
Early in the third set, the Gamecocks went on a 4-0 run to get ahead by four points. Out of a timeout called by the Rattlers, Jax State made the 4-0 run an 8-0 run to gain a 14-6 advantage. The Gamecocks controlled the third and eventually claimed a 25-19 set win.
The Gamecocks were leading comfortably most of the way through the fourth, but FAMU eventually cut it 23-21 late to force a Jax State timeout. The Gamecocks clinched the match with a 25-23 fourth set final.
Kayla Williams led the Gamecocks with 17 kills to go along 10 digs and three service aces.
Amaya Tolentino was also in double-digit kills with 13.
Keyauna Linwood had eight kills on a .353 hitting percentage, while
Sanni Rantanen had seven kills on a team-best .429 hitting percentage.
Luci Wilkinson had a team-best with 19 digs, followed by
Charlee Solomon who added 12. Solomon led the Gamecocks with 41 assists.
Madison Konopka led the squad in service aces with four.
The Gamecocks accumulated 64 digs, 52 kills, 50 assists, 10 aces, and three blocks against the Rattlers.
Jax State closes out the non-conference schedule and the Dolphin Volleyball Classic Saturday at 12 p.m. central against West Virginia. The Mountaineers have swept Florida A&M and Jacksonville thus far in the tournament.
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Volleyball), Twitter (JaxStateVB), and Instagram (JaxStateVB) accounts.
