Second-ranked Jimmies earn five-set win at No. 7 Northwestern

ORANGE CITY, Iowa-- The second-ranked University of Jamestown volleyball team wrapped up three matches in three days with a five-set win at No. 7 Northwestern College Saturday afternoon.

The Jimmies (25-2, 12-1 GPAC) return home to host 19th-ranked Dordt (Iowa) University Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Jamestown had just eight kills and only twice put together multiple-point streaks in losing the first set 25-16.

Set two was much closer with neither team leading by more than two points after UJ went ahead 10-8. With the match tied at 20-20, the Red Raiders went on to win five of the final six points and took a commanding 2-0 match lead.

With their backs against the wall, Jamestown settled in during the third set and opened up a 16-11 lead. After splitting the next eight points, the Jimmies held a 20-15 advantage, but Northwestern rallied to get within 20-19. UJ had set point at 24-21 and the Raiders won three in a row to tie at 24-24. A service error and Jimmie kill ended up the difference and the match moved on to the fourth set.

Five runs of three or more straight points gave UJ the momentum it needed to win the fourth set 25-17 and force a fifth. Jamestown hit .289 in the set, its highest of the match to that point, and made just one error against 12 kills.

Northwestern took control of the fifth set with a 7-4 lead, causing the Jimmies to call a time out. The break served UJ well, as the next seven points were all Jamestown's, as well as an 11-7 lead. The Red Raiders posted back-to-back points to make it 11-9, but the Jimmies took four of the last six for a 15-11 win.

Anna Holen (SR/LaMoure, N.D.) had 13 kills and 23 digs, and Kalli Hegerle (SR/West Fargo, N.D.) and Lexi Olson (SO/Langdon, N.D.) both finished with 11 kills. Hegerle passed out 23 assists and Paige Oswald (JR/Frazee, Minn.) 16. Ellie Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) had a team-high 35 digs while Olson posted seven total blocks.