Second-ranked Jimmies sweep Briar Cliff on Senior Day

The second-ranked University of Jamestown volleyball team sent its four seniors off in style Saturday afternoon, sweeping Briar Cliff (Iowa) University on Senior Day at Harold Newman Arena.

Anna Holen (SR/LaMoure, N.D.), Kadyn Mehring (SR/Carrington, N.D.), Averi Beyer (SR/Fargo, N.D.), and Kalli Hegerle (SR/West Fargo, N.D.) played their final regular-season game in front of the Jimmie faithful. The win moved UJ's record to 27-2 overall, 14-1 in the GPAC, and clinched at least a share of the conference title.

Jamestown took a 16-11 lead in the first set and went ahead 19-15 after a BCU service error. The Chargers rallied to tie the score at 19-19, then a pair of kills by Darienne Johnson (JR/Eastpointe, Mich.) and an ace from Holen put the Jimmies back in front. Briar Cliff got as close as 23-22 before UJ took the last two points.

Backed by a .414 team hitting percentage, Jamestown cruised to a 25-13 second set win. An 8-0 run turned a 4-3 deficit into a comfortable 11-4 edge, and the Chargers got no closer than three the rest of the way. UJ closed out the set winning seven of the last eight points for a 2-0 match lead.

The Jimmies rallied back from being down 11-8 in the third, using a 7-1 run to retake the momentum and the match. Kills from Holen, Hegerle, Johnson, and Mehring down the stretch provided the winning points.

Holen led the way with 13 kills and turned in 19 digs and three blocks on defense. Hegerle finished with 12 kills, 18 assists, and 19 digs. Johnson hit a team-high .538 and ended with seven kills.

Tenley Buddenhagen (SO/Huron, S.D.) (11) and Paige Oswald (JR/Frazee, Minn.) (10) both reached double figures in assists. Ellie Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) had a match-high 23 digs and Beyer was also in double-digit dig totals with 10.

The Jimmies close out the regular season 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) University.