Jimmies advance to GPAC final with four-set win over Ottawa

The Jimmie men's volleyball team defeated Ottawa (Kan.) University in four sets Wednesday evening at Harold Newman Arena to advance to the GPAC postseason tournament championship match. Set scores were 22-25, 25-10, 25-14, 25-18.

UJ (20-3) will host Dordt (Iowa) University on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the winner getting an automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship.

Back-to-back kills by Downey Huynh put the Jimmies ahead 6-5 in the first set, but a 4-0 run by the Braves gave them a lead they wouldn't lose. UJ closed within a point at 16-15 and 17-16, only to have Ottawa win three straight points to extend the lead. Michal Bak had the Braves' final three kills, including the set winner.

Ottawa won the first point of the second set and that would be their only advantage as Jamestown raced out to a 10-3 lead. The Jimmies would go on to hit .636 with 16 kills while holding the Braves to .105 hitting and five kills. Caylor Cox had seven kills, including three in a row that made it 16-7 midway through the set.

UJ hit made only one error and hit .500 in the third as they took a 2-1 match lead after a 25-14 victory. With an 8-6 lead, the Jimmies won three straight and seven of the next nine points to swing the momentum. Oguzhan Oguz had the final kill for Jamestown, his third of the set.

In set four, the Jimmies saw Ottawa get within 10-8 before taking five of the next six points and a 15-9 lead. UJ had multiple seven-point leads down the stretch before settling for a 25-18 victory.

Cox and Oguz each finished with 17 kills. Downey Hunyh had 12 while hitting a team-high .550. Derek Correa passed out 50 assists and had three of UJ's six service aces. Cox and Adam Lopata both had nine digs, and Ever Cancel had five total blocks.