Juniata Wins the Battle of the Eagles at ASICS 3-1

HUNTINGDON, PA – After falling short in the first set, the Juniata women's volleyball team took three straight to defeat the University of Mary Washington 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25,14) Saturday afternoon at the ASICS Invitational. The win improves Juniata to 3-0 in the tournament and 7-0 on the season. 

JC and UMW battled in the first set and were tied eight times with five lead changes. Megan Moroney (Mentor, OH / Mentor) got the kill that tied the game at 23 before a Mary Washington kill and a Juniata service error secured set one for UMW.  

Juniata started to find their groove in the second set. Mary Washington would tie the game once at 12 but JC never lost the lead. UMW was held at 13 points while Juniata went on a six point run to make it 23-13. Glen Brumm (Oro Valley, AZ / Canyon Del Oro) made the kill that gave JC the second set 25-15. 

The third set remained close, with neither team taking more than a four-point lead. Brittanie Tannenbaum (Highlands Ranch, CO / Highlands Ranch) got the kill to give Juniata the third set 25-21 and put them up 2-1 in the match. Tannenbaum finished the match with 9 kills and 21 total attacks.

Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, PA / Upper Saint Clair) would finish the match with a service ace in the fourth set to give Juniata the 3-1 win. 

Reynolds had 39 assists against Mary Washington. She averages 10.25 assists per set this season.

Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, CA / Rolling Hills Prep) remained a force for Juniata throughout the match. Phillips led in total attacks at 32 and kills at 13.

Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, PA / Greencastle-Antrim) led JC with six total blocks, four assists and two solo.

Juniata's defensive specialist Katie Byrne (Annapolis, MD / Broadneck) finished with 13 digs, 2 service aces and one assist.

JC closes out the ASICS Invitational against the Clarkson Golden Knights around 6PM Saturday evening.