Strong Third Set Push Not Enough as UAlbany Falls to JMU
Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The UAlbany volleyball team nearly fought back to take set three and get back in the match, but fell short to James Madison 3-0 (9-25, 12-25, 23-25) at the Carolina Classic on Friday.
After JMU (3-5) took an early two point lead in game one, kills by Amanda Dolan and Laini Leindecker back-to-back tied up the score. An exchange of points, capped by a second Leindecker kill, made it 3-3. At 5-4 JMU, the Dukes went on a 3-0 run, which was stopped by a third Leindecker kill. JMU kept adding to its lead, winning nine of the next 11 points for a 17-6 advantage. UAlbany (0-7) tried to build on a strong solo block by Dolan, but JMU finished strong and won the first set 25-9.
UAlbany fell behind early in the second game after JMU began with a 6-0 run. After MJ Engstrom called a timeout, a Dolan kill stopped the opening streak. At 8-1 JMU, UAlbany started to surge back. Tatum Jungsten earned her first kill as UAlbany won four of the next six points to pull within five. Following a JMU block, the Great Danes won four straight, started by a Leindecker kill, to make it 11-9 JMU. The Dukes rebuilt its lead with a 4-0 run. Dolan tried to get UAlbany back in the set, earning two kills in a row. But a 7-0 run by JMU pushed the Dukes up 23-11. Set two went to the Dukes 25-12 to put them up 2-0 in the match.
In the third set, JMU took an early 5-2 lead. An Olivia Schonewise kill and JMU attack brought UAlbany back within one. After a JMU kill, Jungsten came alive and contributed the first and final kill in a 4-0 run to push the Great Danes up 8-6. The team added to its lead after a JMU kill with kills from Jungsten and Leindecker for a 10-7 advantage. JMU got two points back, which UAlbany countered with two for a 12-9 lead. The Duke won three straight, forcing UAlbany to call timeout. The break led to kill from Leindecker and Schonewise to give UAlbany back the lead 14-12. Again JMU pushed with four out of the next five points to move in front, and against UAlbany tugged back with a 3-0 run to go up 18-16. The teams went back and forth as a Leindecker kill made it 22-20 UAlbany. But JMU won five of the final six points to win 25-23 and take the match.
Leindecker was just short of a double double with a career-best eight kills and nine digs. Dolan earned five kills and three blocks, while Jungsten concluded with five kills and four digs.
For JMU, MacKenzie Kleespies led the team with a double double of 11 kills and 12 digs. Meghan Niski hit .417 with 10 kills, seven digs and a pair of aces.
Tomorrow, the Great Danes will take on George Washington at 10 a.m. and North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. to finish out the Carolina Classic.
