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Volleyball Conquers Crosstown Rival Baldwin Wallace in 5-Set Thriller

| By: Dylan Feltovich, Staff Writer
The Blue Streaks won a dramatic match in 5 sets for a clutch road win. 
Box Score BEREA, Ohio -- Despite a rough start, the John Carroll Volleyball team was able to overcome adversity and defeat their crosstown rivals, Baldwin Wallace University.

The Blue Streaks traveled to Berea for an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup against the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets, who came into the battle with a 16-8 record.

The Blue Streaks walked away with the victory, a hard-earned 5-set conquest: 12-25, 26-24, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13. 

Set 1
The first set began with a back-and-forth match between the Blue Streaks and the Yellow Jackets, with a kill from senior outside hitter Brooke Hjerpe.

However, the battle quickly changed, as the Yellow Jackets went on a 10-4 run to take a commanding lead over the JCU. Two straight aces from Baldwin Wallace junior Isa Luciano and a couple of attack errors led to the Blue Streaks down in a 20-8 hole.

Baldwin Wallace would finish their dominant set with a kill from senior outside hitter Cecelia Hamisch, and would take the first set, 25-12.

Set 2
All the first set woes did not distract the Blue Streaks, as they would start the second set neck-and-neck with the Yellow Jackets. 

While the Blue Streaks looked as if they were pulling away, Baldwin Wallace had an offensive eruption, and came within one point of winning their second straight set.

Facing adversity, JCU fought back and would eventually tie up the set, and followed with two more points to steal the second set from the Yellow Jackets to tie the match at one set apiece.

Set 3
The late momentum found at the end of the last set would carry over into the third set. A pair of kills from freshmen Jessica Liddle and Jillian Kellick and a slew of errors committed by Baldwin Wallace fueled a 14-7 lead.

The third set would end with a kill from senior right side Cassi Calamunci, and JCU took the reins of the match with a 25-21 win. Baldwin Wallace would finish the third set with 11 errors, and the Blue Streaks were able to capitalize on mistakes.

Calamunci would finish the set with nine kills, with the help of senior setter Ally Bartolone's 19-assist performance. Senior Anna Coughlin would also lead the Blue Streaks with 15 digs.

Set 4
Baldwin Wallace did not let the defeat affect their play in the fourth set. A raid of kills from Jessica Liddle, Jillian Kellick, and Cassi Calamunci, plus an ace from freshman Kate Allerheiligen sparked the Blue Streaks offense.

Like the other sets, the fourth set began with both teams trading points, as they went into a 19-19 deadlock late in the set. 

A little run from the Blue Streaks ended abruptly, as Baldwin Wallace freshman Sam Rueda struck two consecutive kills to propel the Yellow Jackets to a fourth-set victory, 26-24.

Set 5
The drop of the fourth set provided the energy the Blue Streaks needed to start the last set, as they would jump out to a commanding 6-0 lead.

This energy would be halted by the Yellow Jackets, as they would clean their errors and jump start their offense with three straight kills. The final set would be an offensive duel, with the winner being who could produce more in the clutch

A combination of seniors and freshman lead the final charge for the Blue Streaks, as Kellick, Calamunci, and Liddle would seal the deal, 15-13.

For the match, Calamunci topped the team with 10 kills, followed by Kellick with 8 and Abigail Kirk with 7. Ally Bartolone led the way in assists with 24. Anna Coughlin anchored the defense with 23 digs, followed by Calamunci with 16 and Bartolone with 14. 

The Blue Streaks' next match is against Marietta College on Saturday, October 23. That match will serve as Senior Day for the Blue Streaks.
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