Eagles Open Weekend with Straight-Set Win over Rangers
MADISON, N.J. - The Juniata women's volleyball team opened a three-match weekend with a straight-set victory at Landmark Conference Drew University (25-9, 25-16, 25-14) on Friday evening.
Juniata only trailed after conceding the first point of the first set on a day where they hit .352 and kept the Rangers to a .029 hitting percentage.
Mackenzie Coley (.750 hitting percentage) and Kennedy Christy (.429 hitting percentage) each led the Eagles attack with nine kills, while Coley also notched two block assists. Sophia Repholz and Sydney Ohl each provided three aces, while Olivia Foley (17 assists), Abbey Telesz (15 assists), and Lacie Brown (12) assists each had one set serving as setter. Ohl totaled a team-high 18 digs, tying her season-high.
After dropping the first point on a Rangers ace, Juniata got back in front via two errors and a Coley kill to go up 3-1 early. The sides traded points up until a run of eight-straight Eagles points put Juniata in full command at 16-6, with Audrey Muth and Courtney Williams each collecting two kills in the run. Drew managed just three points the rest of the set, with Juniata securing set point on Coley's fifth kill in the first. Juniata hit .556 in set one while keeping Drew to -.083.
A 4-0 run with a kill from Emily Sullivan, an Ohl ace, and two Drew errors gave Juniata an early lead, but the Rangers got back within one with three points of their own. Juniata swiftly went from a narrow 4-3 advantage to a 14-5 lead in a stretch that included four kills and an ace from Coley. The gap remained around 10 points up to set point on a Drew attacking error. Sullivan had a team-high five kills in the second set.
Three early kills from Ava Gummer helped get Juniata up 7-3 early in the third set as Drew kept in contention into the middle of the third set, standing down two points at 12-10. After trading points a bit, a five-point run with kills from Maggie Hayes, Mia Schubert, and Williams with two Ohl aces, Juniata comfortably in control at 19-11. Points were traded up to Repholz, ending the match on an ace at 25-14, working through a match-low .179 hitting percentage in the third set.
The win extends Juniata's current winning streak to 47 consecutive victories dating back to September of last year, while they have yet to drop a set in conference play in 2023.
The Juniata women's volleyball team plays two away matches tomorrow, opening the afternoon against Landmark opponent Scranton before ending the weekend against Stevens for a neutral-site contest at 3:00 pm.