Third-ranked Midland outlasts No. 2 Jimmies in five sets

The second-ranked University of Jamestown volleyball team squared off against No. 3 Midland (Neb.) University Saturday afternoon at Harold Newman Arena.

In the end, it was the Warriors coming away with the victory in five sets. Scores were 17-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 15-10.

UJ took a 1-0 match lead, outhitting Midland .361 to .135. After the Warriors had closed the gap to 15-14, Jamestown took five of the next six points and also closed out the set on a 5-1 run.

The Jimmies had a .118 to .085 edge in hitting in the second set, but Midland took a 12-9 lead midway through the set and forced UJ to play from behind. Tied at 19, the teams would trade points until the Warriors pulled ahead 24-21. A combo block by Darienne Johnson (JR/Eastpointe, Mich.) and Logan Sherman (JR/Marshall, Minn.) led to another by Johnson and Anna Holen (SR/LaMoure, N.D.), and Jamestown was within a point. Midland answered with a block of their own to even the match.

A 4-1 run in the third turned a 10-9 lead into a more comfortable four-point cushion, and the Jimmies posted their second 25-17 win of the match. Making just one attack error, Jamestown hit .636 with 15 kills to Midland's .094 on 11 kills.

UJ had leads of 8-3 and 13-8 before the Warriors narrowed the gap. Midland's first lead of the fourth came at 22-21, and a service and attack error by the Jimmies ended up being the difference in the Warriors' second 25-23 win of the match.

In the final set, a 5-1 Midland run changed the momentum, and Jamestown would get no closer than three points the rest of the way. The Warriors only outhit UJ once in the match, but it was in the decisive fifth.

Kalli Hegerle (SR/West Fargo, N.D.) posted 17 kills, 23 assists, and 11 digs while hitting .421 on the day. Anna Holen added 13 kills and 22 digs. Paige Oswald (JR/Frazee, Minn.) finished with 19 assists, Ellie Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) had a team-high 27 digs, and Grace Hegerle (SO/Jamestown, N.D.) ended with 14 digs.

Five players had at least five total blocks, led by Johnson with nine.

Jamestown (19-2 overall, 7-1 GPAC) will look to start a new winning streak Wednesday in a non-conference home match against Valley City State (N.D.) University at 7 p.m.