UJ Volleyball Wins Over Dakota St., Wed.

MADISON, S.D.  (UJ)  — The number one-ranked University of Jamestown women’s volleyball team held off a stiff challenge by Dakota State (S.D.) University Wednesday night, defeating the Trojans 25-23, 25-14, and 25-23.

Jamestown is now 23-1 this season while Dakota State falls to 11-6.

The Trojans got off to a quick start, winning the first six points of set one on the way to a 13-8 lead. Dakota State’s largest advantage of the set came at 18-13, and following a DSU attack error, UJ took the next four points to cut the lead to one. Corina Huff (SR/Breezy Point, Minn.)’s kill gave the Jimmies a 21-20 lead, their first of the set. Kalli Hegerle (JR/West Fargo, N.D.) and Jayla Ritter (JR/Forest Lake, Minn.) posted back-to-back kills to make it 24-22, and a service error by DSU ended the set.

Jamestown took command in the second set, racing out to a 13-4 lead after an Anna Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) ace and Taylor Sabinash (JR/Kensal, N.D.) kill. UJ led by 11 twice in the set and Dakota State did not get closer than seven (13-6).

In set three, DSU rallied from 16-11 to cut the Jimmies’ lead to 16-14. Jamestown won seven of the next ten points to open up a six-point edge, but the Trojans took five straight to make it 23-22. A DSU attack error ended the run, but a kill on the next point gave the Trojans another chance. Logan Sherman (FR/Marshall, Minn.) finished off the match for UJ with a kill set up by Jackie Meiklejohn (JR/Dickey, N.D.).

Sabinash had 10 kills and hit .421 on 19 attempts. Ritter added six kills and Holen and Hegerle finished with five kills each.

Megan Gaffaney (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) had 19 assists and Meiklejohn 13. Holen had 23 digs, followed by Sydney Ellingson (SR/Langdon, N.D.) with 20 and Hannah Schiele (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) with 10. Ritter and Holen both had three total blocks.

UJ is back in action next Thursday when they host Dickinson State (N.D.) Universty at 7 p.m.