Dukes rally for CAA win

Women’s volleyball comes back from two games down

By Jennifer Chapman, contributing writer

When a team starts the season off strong and promising and then begins to falter in the middle, all they need to do is pick their head up, pick up the intensity and refocus. This is exactly what the JMU women’s volleyball team learned Saturday night against new Colonial Athletic Association conference rival, Northeastern University.

After losing the first two games, the Dukes powered back to win the match 3-2 Saturday night at Sinclair Gymnasium in Godwin Hall.

“We had a really slow start,” coach Disa Garner said. “However, I am incredibly proud of how we kept our composure and focus and came back strong.”

The Dukes opened the first game of the match by winning the first point but struggled to keep a lead as Northeastern went on a 7-0 run after the game was tied at 4. The two aces from senior setter Krysta Cannon that brought the Dukes back within four points wasn’t enough to stop the Northeastern momentum. The Huskies went on a 6-0 run, bringing their lead to 10 points, which eventually led to a 30-20 win.

The second game appeared to be a mirror image of the first as the teams found themselves again tied at point 4 before the Huskies pulled away. However, JMU put together a late surge at one point before the Huskies claimed a 30-28 victory in game two off a side out from the Dukes.

“After the second game we made some personnel adjustments.” Garner said. ”We switched our setting. Krysta came in to serve and play more defense.”

That adjustment proved to be just what the Dukes needed. Game three opened with the Dukes taking a 3-0 lead before the Huskies could net a point. JMU then went on a run of their own, bringing their lead to 10-3. A kill from junior right side Bayli Stillwell at point 24 gave the Dukes a 12-point lead. They would hold until closing the game 30-18.

“We fought back hard after losing the first two games,” Cannon said. “And now we know we have to mentally come prepared for every single game and go all out.”

Game four became pivotal as the Huskies tried to fight back and go home with a road victory. Northeastern took the lead early on until freshman outside hitter Kelsey McNamara’s ace brought the Dukes within 2 points. The Dukes then went on a 6-0 run and never looked back. A flustered Northeastern team called two timeouts, but was unable to get back in the game. Madison stunned the Huskies 30-26 to push a game five.

“Kelsey did a great job tonight on offense and with her swing,” Garner said of McNamara, who finished with a team-high 23 kills. “For a freshman, she really kept it together. Often freshmen can try to get too crafty on the outside and she didn’t. She stayed focused and controlled, and that’s what we needed.”

JMU’s burst of energy was enough to last for game five as they took the lead at point 6 and held on for the win, 15-12.

“This win was a huge turning point,” sophomore libero Jena Pierson said. “I think if we play with that same intensity all the time, we’ll keep winning.”

Before the win JMU had lost five-straight CAA matches. They open up the second half of conference play with three road games at George Mason University, Georgia State University and University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

“We need to continue to play with the intensity and passion that we played with in the last three games,” junior right side Hanna Porterfield said. “If we do that, we should have a successful second half of the season.”