CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Jax State volleyball fell 3-1 to Cincinnati Friday afternoon in the Chattanooga Classic. The Gamecocks' effort was highlighted by a third set win over the Big 12 foe.
 
"Overall, I am happy with the way we played," head coach Derek Schroeder said. "That's a Big 12 team and they have some positions that are definitely big."
 
The Gamecocks and Bearcats duked it out in the first set. Cincinnati got out in front 18-15 a little over midway through the first, but the Gamecocks battled back to cut the lead to 21-20 and forced a late timeout from Cincinnati. Out of the break, Cincinnati went on to clinch the set victory 25-22.
 
In the second, the Bearcats got out in front of Jax State early 6-2 to force a timeout and later forced another Gamecocks timeout as they extended their lead to 12-5. Cincinnati won the set 25-18, but Jax State responded well to the 2-0 set deficit in the third.
 
Jax State trailed 13-10 nearly midway through the second set before cutting the Cincinnati advantage to one, 16-15. The Gamecocks took the lead 18-17 thanks to a kill by senior hitter Kayla Williams. Williams got a service ace to put the Gamecocks up 22-20 and force a timeout from the Bearcats. Late in the third, Cincinnati tied it at 23-23, but a kill by Sanni Rantanen clinched the set win 25-23.
 
The fourth set was a close one, 16-11, but went the way of the Bearcats following a timeout. Cincinnati went on a 7-0 run before a kill by Rantanen ended the scoring drought for the Gamecocks. Cincinnati took the match with a 25-13 final in the fourth.
 
Williams had was the go-to offensive option for Jax State as she led the Gamecocks with 17 kills. Freshman Amaya Tolentino was the other Jax State player in double-figure kills with 10. Williams also led the way for Jax State with two aces.
 
"Kayla played a heck of a match, and we served, passed, and defended great," Schroeder said. "Significant improvements in many areas of our game. I know the girls are hungry to play again."
 
D'Yanna Spicer had a team-best four total blocks, while Tolentino had the next most with three. Charlee Solomon led the Gamecocks with 41 assists in the setter position. Defensively, Jax State had three in double-figures. Luci Wilkinson had a team-high 16, Morgan Blazzard had 14, and Madison Konopka had 10.
 
Jax State faces Ohio on Saturday at 11 a.m., then plays hosts Chattanooga at 5 p.m.
 
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