Senior send-off
JMU beats GMU in final home volleyball game
Posted on November 13, 2006

It was a kill from senior right side Bayli Stillwell that opened up the final game in Sinclair Gymnasium for four seniors. The JMU women’s volleyball team honored libero Amanda Sneed, right side Hanna Porterfield, middle blocker Ashley Copenhaver and Stillwell before going on to defeat the George Mason University Patriots 3-0, improving their conference record to 13-5.

“It was four years of hard work and great memories and all built up for this one night,” Sneed said. “Coming out one last time to play in this gym was really special, but also kind of sad.”

The Dukes won in three straight games 30-16, 30-22 and 30-25.

After trailing 3-5 in the first game, JMU tied the score at six and never looked back.

Midway through the game, junior middle blocker Allyson Halls served six straight, including two aces, before Mason was able to notch a point. Copenhaver came up with a kill for the 29th point before sending in the game-winning serve that was finished off from a kill from Halls.         

“Playing with these girls was fun and it made it amazing to play here,” Copenhaver said.

The second game showcased the Dukes’ strong front line with kills from Halls, Porterfield and sophomore middle blocker Michelle Johnson. The Patriots started a surge and cut the deficit to seven points, before Halls answered with a kill. Junior libero Jena Pierson served an ace for the game-winner.

In the third game, the Dukes found themselves continually tied until breaking away at point 19. Consecutive double blocks from Hall and Porterfield propelled JMU on a 4-0 run. The Patriots would bring the game within three before Porterfield brought home the win with the final two points in a kill and block, respectfully.

“It was awesome to win our last match in Godwin,” Porterfield said. “But more importantly, hopefully this secures our second-place berth in the conference tournament.”

With a second seed, JMU will earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Dukes fell last weekend in three games to No. 1 Hofstra.

“We have to play solid, straight through the entire tournament,” JMU coach Disa Garner said. “All six players on the court at any given time must play together and we’ll have to step up our blocking.”

The team is looking to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish.

“We learned a lot from last year,” Garner said. “Now we are focused and want to take care of business.”

The Dukes face the winner of the No. 3 versus No. 6 game in the semifinals of the tournament at Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y., Saturday.

Garner said, “We don’t hope to win; we are playing to win.”