NAIA National Championship @ Sioux City, IA

Jamestown def Westmont College -25-22,22-25,31-29,25-19

SIOUX CITY, Iowa  (uj.edu)  — Down 9-1 to Westmont (Ca.) in the third set of Wednesday’s match, the eighth-ranked University of Jamestown rallied for a 31-29 set win and held on to defeat the Warriors 3-1 to remain unbeaten in pool play at the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Championship presented by Marriott South Sioux City Riverfront.

Jamestown (31-4) trailed 24-19 but rode the strength of Miranda Lowman (SR/Mandan, N.D.)’s serving to tie the set at 24. From there, the teams traded points and UJ had four opportunities to put Westmont away, but the Warriors managed to get the tying point.

UJ won the first set 25-22, as did Westmont the second set. The momentum of Jamestown’s third set carried over into the fourth.

The Jimmies took a 13-8 lead only to see the Warriors come back to trail by two, 15-13. Four straight UJ points pushed the lead to 19-13 and Westmont would get no closer than four the rest of the set.

Corina Ruud (JR/Breezy Point, Minn.)’s career-high 16 kills led the way for Jamestown. She also hit .323 for the match Isabel Wedell (SR/Ellendale, N.D.) (13 kills, .333 hitting) was also in double figures. Taylor Sabinash (SO/Kensal, N.D.) (nine kills, .240 hitting) and Britta Knudson (SR/Bismarck, N.D.) (eight kills, .240 hitting) added to the Jimmie attack.

Jackie Meiklejohn (SO/Dickey, N.D.)’s career-high 32 assists helped spark the offense. Lowman added 18 assists and 13 digs for a double-double, and Meiklejohn also posted a double-double with 10 digs.

Anna Holen (SO/LaMoure, N.D.) led the defense with a career-high 29 digs, one of five Jimmies with 10 or more. Sydney Ellingson (JR/Langdon, N.D.) (23) and Hannah Schiele (SO/Jamestown, N.D.) (16) were also in double figures. Knudson recorded four total blocks, including one solo. Sabinash and Ruud both had three total blocks.

Cassidy Rea led Westmont (27-7) with 17 kills while Brooklynn Cheney added 12. Keelyn Kistner passed out 20 assists and Lauren Friis racked up 27 digs. Lexi Malone totaled 12 blocks, including three solo.

Jamestown faces No. 9 Columbia (Mo.) Thursday at 4 p.m. while Westmont plays Xavier (La.) at 2 p.m.