OMAHA, Neb. (uj.edu)– The 25th-ranked University of Jamestown remained undefeated in 2018, winning its first two games in the GoSarpy.com Labor Classic, hosted by Bellevue (Neb.)
#25 Jamestown 3, Montana State-Northern 0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-19)
The Jimmies made it five sweeps in their first five matches, taking care of Montana State-Northern in three sets Friday morning.
Tied 6-6 in the first set, UJ won 19 of the last 23 points to take a 1-0 lead. In the second set, MSU-N cut the deficit to 18-10, only to see Jamestown win seven straight points to close out the set and go up 2-0. MSU-N hung around in the third set, but the Jimmies were able to thwart a rally and take the match.
“I thought we served well the first couple of sets, and that really put them on their heels,” said UJ head coach Jon Hegerle. “We played a lot of players which was nice at this point of the season.”
Jamestown finished with 10 service aces in 73 attempts, with Kori Buchanan (SR/Colfax, Wis.) and her jump serve accounting for five aces alone.
“I feel like our team did really well,” Buchanan said. “When we struggled, we did a good job of staying positive and determined.”
Isabel Wedell (JR/Ellendale, N.D.) and Kennedy Conzemius (SR/Breckenridge, Minn.) combined for 21 kills as the Jimmies improved to 5-0. Jamestown posted hitting percentages of .385 and .423 in the first two sets, then hit .400 in the final set.
“We put pressure on them at all times, capitalizing on their errors and limiting ours,” said Conzemius. “It was a really good all-around team win.”
Wedell hit a team-high .579 while Britta Knudson (JR/Bismarck, N.D.) hit .538 with seven kills. Conzemius was also at .500 for the match. Corina Ruud (SO/Breezy Point, Minn.) also added seven kills.
Megan Gaffaney (FR/Jamestown, N.D.) (16 assists) and Jackie Meiklejohn (FR/Dickey, N.D.) (10) helped direct the Jimmie offense to a .402 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Julina Niemeier (SR/Jamestown, N.D.) had 18 digs as UJ outdug MSU-N 42-24.
#25 Jamestown 3, #23 Ottawa (Kan.) 2 (25-16, 27-29, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9)
The Jimmies needed all five sets to secure a victory against their first Top 25 opponent this season, 23rd ranked Ottawa (Kan.)
UJ and Ottawa traded the first four sets before Jamestown held on for a 15-9 fifth set win.
Jordan Thomas (JR/Pingree, N.D.) led the Jimmie offense with 13 kills. Britta Knudson and Corina Ruud had nine apiece, and Kennedy Conzemius finished with seven.
Miranda Lowman (JR/Mandan, N.D.) passed out 25 assists and Jackie Meiklejohn posted a double-double with 20 assists and 10 digs.
Julina Niemeier had a team-high 29 digs while Meghan Orr (JR/Ypsilanti, N.D.) was also in double figures with 15. Conzemius racked up a team-best five total blocks.
Jamestown outhit the Braves .161-.126 and had a 9-3 advantage in service aces.
The win pushes the Jimmies’ season mark to 6-0 as they wrap up the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic with an 11:00 a.m. match against Central Methodist (Mo.)
