HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison volleyball (10-6, 5-1 SBC) fell 3-1 at Marshall (11-6, 4-2 SBC) on Friday afternoon, snapping an eight-match win streak.
Marshall took the first two sets 25-18 before JMU stormed back for a 25-15 third-set win. The Thundering Herd closed the match with a 25-12 win in set four.
Kennedy Louisell led the seven Dukes who tallied kills with 10. Melisa Ilter added a season-high nine kills, as did Ana Toumazatos.
JMU won the battle at the net, out-blocking Marshall 9-6. The Dukes have tallied more blocks than their opponents in every match this season. Six of the 10 Dukes who played today notched at least one block.
The Dukes return home next weekend to face Appalachian State on Oct. 15 and 16, both at 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
How We Got Here
Set One – Marshall 25, JMU 18
• JMU fell behind early, trailing by four at the media timeout (15-11).
• JMU pulled to within two (17-15), but Marshall pushed back out to a five-point lead (20-15) off a 3-0 scoring stretch. The Thundering Herd inched it out to 5-1 scoring run.
Set Two – Marshall 25, JMU 18
• The Dukes and Herd stayed close from the opening, neither team being able to move further than two points from the other until back-to-back service aces gave Marshall a 10-7 lead. This was part of a 6-1 run by Marshall.
• JMU used a 4-1 run out of the media timeout to tie the match for the sixth time of the set (16-all).
• Marshall closed on a 4-0 scoring run to take set two.
Set Three – JMU 25, Marshall 15
• After sitting at a 2-2 tie, JMU went on a 7-0 scoring run to take a 9-2 advantage.
• Marshall went on a 4-0 scoring run of its own to pull back within three at 9-6.
• JMU jumped out to a 17-10 lead off a 3-0 run that bridged the media timeout.
• The Dukes closed on a 4-0 scoring run to win by double digits (25-15).
Set Four – Marshall 25, JMU 12
• Marshall opened on a 5-1 run, prompting an early timeout by JMU.
• The Herd went on a 3-0 run to take a 15-8 lead into the media timeout. They also closed the match on a 3-0 run to win 25-12.
Match Notes
• Kennedy Louisell reached double-digit kills for the 47th straight match.
• Melisa Ilter had a season-high nine kills.
• Ilter added an assist, her first of the season, and tied her season-best with 2.0 digs.
• JMU snapped an eight-match win streak.
• This is the Dukes’ first loss to Marshall as conference foes.
• Seven of 10 Dukes who played tallied a kill.
— JMU Athletics —
