Update:

The Jimmies will face Eastern Oregon University Thursday at 5 p.m., with the winner facing either Midland (Neb.) or Northwestern (Iowa) in the semifinals.

Wednesday

UJ

Women’s Volleyball.

Jamestown 3-0 over Providence, Montana

 25-22,25-16,25-18

Box Score

SIOUX CITY, Iowa  (UJ) — The top-ranked University of Jamestown women’s volleyball team faced their toughest challenge of the season on paper, anyway, Wednesday morning in pool play at the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Championship.

However, as the adage goes, that’s why they play the game.

Jamestown took care of No. 15 University of Providence (Mont.) in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16, and 25-18, snapping the Argos’ 20-match winning streak while advancing to the quarterfinals of the national tournament beginning Thursday.

The Jimmies (29-1) trailed 13-11 in the first set but back-to-back kills by Jayla Ritter (JR/Forest Lake, Minn.) and Taylor Sabinash (JR/Kensal, N.D.) along with an ace by Sydney Ellingson (SR/Langdon, N.D.) put UJ ahead by a point. Both teams traded points until the set was tied at 20, then a kill from Kalli Hegerle (JR/West Fargo, N.D.), an Argo attack error, and another kill from Anna Holen (JR/LaMoure, N.D.) made it 23-20. A Providence attack error clinched the set for UJ.

Jamestown never trailed in set two, and with a 17-10 lead, turned on the pressue. The Jimmie lead never fell below four points, and UJ finished with five of the final six points to take a 2-0 match lead. Holen and Hegerle both posted three kills while Ritter, Corina Huff (SR/Breezy Point, Minn.), and Nicole Schmitz (FR/Oakes, N.D.) all had two. The Jimmies outhit the Argos .310 to -0.029 in the set, and were helped by two Hannah Schiele (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) service aces.

UP turned their offensive fortunes around in the third set, hitting .213, but UJ was better, hitting at a .378 clip with just two errors in 37 attempts. Hegerle had five kills, Holen four, and Taylor Sabinash three as Jamestown closed the match with three of the final four points. Once again, the Jimmies never trailed, and led by as many as six throughout much of the set.

Holen recorded a double-double of 11 kills and 13 digs, while Hegerle had 10 kills. Sabinash ended with eight and Huff six in helping UJ finish with a .330 match hitting percentage.

Jackie Meiklejohn (JR/Dickey, N.D.) (25) and Megan Gaffaney (JR/Jamestown, N.D.) (15) both reached double-figure assist totals, and Sydney Ellingson turned in a match-high 20 digs. The Jamestown net defense once again played a strong role, finishing with 10 blocks. Ritter had five block assists, followed by Schmitz, Huff, and Hegerle with four each. Hannah Schiele had three key service aces, with Meiklejohn and Ellie Holen (FR/LaMoure, N.D.) also picking up aces.

The Jimmies will face Eastern Oregon University Thursday at 5 p.m., with the winner facing either Midland (Neb.) or Northwestern (Iowa) in the semifinals.