Saturday…

Men’s Volleyball

Sioux Center, Iowa (uj.edu) The University of Jamestown started their men’s volleyball program in historic fashion by going 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at DeWitt Gymnasium in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The Jimmies won their first match 3-1 over Dordt (Iowa) University on their home court and duplicated that feat with a 3-1 win over another first-year program, Viterbo (Wis.) University.

In their inaugural match, the Jimmies ran out to a 2-0 lead, winning 25-18 and 25-21 before the Defenders stormed back to take set three 25-20.

UJ pulled away late in set four to win 25-20 and secure the program’s first victory.

The Jimmies hit a blistering .325 with four players in double figures in kills – Clark Steele (JR/Lake Forest, Calif.) (16), Nick Vanags (FR/San Diego, Calif.) (14), Derek Owens (FR/Andover, Minn.) (10) and Caylor Cox (FR/Helena, Mont.) (10).

Libero Braden Neumann (JR/Costa Mesa, Calif.) led UJ with 11 digs while Cox added 10. Setter Derek Correa (FR/Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) had 44 assists.

UJ had 58 kills to just 44 for the Defenders, who came into the match 2-1.

In set one, the two teams were tied at 8 before the Jimmies ran off four consecutive points on two kills by Steele and one each from Austin Jacob (FR/Houston, Texas) and Vanags.

The Jimmies would not relinquish the lead the rest of the set as Steele finished off the scoring with an ace.

UJ carried the momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead on kills by Jacob, Steele, Vanags and an ace by Neumann.

The Jimmies never trailed in the set, building the lead to as many as 8 (15-7).

Dordt turned the tables in set three, starting fast the building a 12-6 lead.  The Jimmies rallied to tie the set at 19, but the Defenders won six of the final seven points to take the set.

Set four was tight until the end as the two teams combined for six ties and three lead changes.

UJ led 19-18 before putting the match away with a 6-2 run behind kills by Steele, Cox, Vanags and Jacob.

Jimmies 3, Viterbo 1

The Jimmies won the first set 27-25, despite hitting just .100.  UJ had 13 kills, but 10 hitting errors.  Viterbo fought off three set points before the Jimmies finally took the opening set.

In set two, the Jimmies caught fire, winning 25-14.  UJ jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind three kills by Steele.

They maintained that lead up until 18-12 when they put together a 7-2 to end the set. Three kills by Cox led the charge.

The Jimmies seemed in control of set three and looked to sweep the match, but Viterbo rallied to force a fourth set.

UJ led 10-5 early and still had a 20-17 lead before the V-Hawks closed the set by rallying to outscore UJ 8-3.

The fourth set was tight early on as the two teams were tied at 10 before UJ put together a 4-0 run, keyed by kills from Jacob and Cox.

Viterbo stormed back to cut the deficit to 14-13, but three kills by Owens fueled an 8-0 run under the serve of Kodiak Cranford (FR/Escondido, Calif.) to grab a 22-13 lead and never looked back.

The Jimmies featured another balanced offensive attack with Owens (14), Vanags (13), Steele (10) and Cox (10) each in double figures for kills.

Correa had 46 assists and Cox led the team with 11 digs.

Jamestown will head to Iowa next weekend to take on top-ranked Grand View, Indiana Tech and William Penn.