Jimmies sweep pair of Saturday matches at Big Sky Volleyball Challenge

BUTTE, Mont.-- The second-ranked University of Jamestown volleyball team extended its winning streak to three matches Saturday, sweeping Bushnell (Ore.) and Carroll (Mont.) College.

The Jimmies improve to 3-1 this season and will be in Great Falls, Mont., August 25-27 for the Electric City Invitational.

No. 2 UJ 3, Bushnell 0
Jamestown used a balanced offensive attack in downing Bushnell Saturday morning 25-15, 25-22, 25-21.

Six players had at least four kills, led by Kalli Hegerle (SR/West Fargo, N.D.)'s eight. Anna Holen (SR/LaMoure, N.D.), Lexi Olson (SO/Langdon, N.D.), and Aleah Zieske (SO/Spicer, Minn.) all had five kills, and Darienne Johnson (JR/Eastpointe, Mich.) and Logan Sherman (JR/Marshall, Minn.) finished with four.

The Jimmies hit .209 in the match as Hegerle and Paige Oswald (JR/Frazee, Minn.) each passed out 12 assists. Anna Holen and Ellie Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) both had nine digs, while Zieske had two total blocks.

Tied at 5-5 in the first set, UJ won seven of the next eight points to open up a 12-6 lead. Jamestown never let Bushnell get closer than five points and would build as much as an 11-point advantage at 23-12.

The final two sets were closer, as Bushnell trimmed a 22-18 Jimmie lead in the second to 22-21. Hegerle's kill and a pair of Bushnell attack errors accounted for the last three set points.

After leading 19-17 in the third, UJ saw Bushnell tie the set with two straight points. That was enough motivation for the Jimmies to reel off the next four points and end Bushnell's momentum.

No. 2 UJ 3, Carroll 0
Hegerle and Zieske were the main offensive threats in a 25-16, 25-18, 25-21 sweep of the Saints. Both players finished with 10 kills as the Jimmies had a total of 38 in the match.

Paige Oswald had 17 assists and Hegerle ended with 10. On the defensive side, Ellie Holen racked up 30 digs and Anna Holen added 12. Darienne Johnson led the way with five total blocks, including a pair of solo blocks.

Runs of 6-0 and 8-2 in the first helped the Jimmies to an opening set win. UJ outhit Carroll .243 to -.128, making only four errors on 37 attacks.

Zieske's first kill of the second set put Jamestown ahead 7-1 early. Carroll took eight of the next 12 points to pull within two, but the Jimmies ended the threat with another 7-1 run. The lead would get as large as ten before a brief Saint rally made the score appear closer than it was.

Carroll led 6-3 in the third before UJ tied up the set at 8-8. Jamestown gradually built a five-point lead at 18-13, only to have the Saints draw level at 20-20. Two kills each by Logan Sherman and Anna Holen combined with a Carroll attack error accounted for the final five points and the match win.