Box Score
NEW CONCORD, Ohio -- Reversing the trend was the goal for the John Carroll University volleyball team as they traveled on the road to face Muskingum University. The Blue and Gold had lost their last five matches against the Fighting Muskies and hoped this matchup would prove different. However, Muskingum's home-court advantage proved to be too much.
John Carroll was defeated by Muskingum in three sets (16-25, 20-25, 23-25) at the Anne C. Steele Center as both teams opened Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play. John Carroll falls to 7-7 overall and 0-1 in the OAC, while Muskingum improves to 7-6 on the year and 1-0 in conference play.
The first set was a see-saw affair as the Blue Streaks and Fighting Muskies were tied at ten apiece. However, some JCU unforced errors and timely kills by Muskingum led to a 12-1 run as Muskingum cruised to a 25-16 win. Cassi Calamunci led with five kills in the set, and Ally Bartolone had seven assists. Anna Coughlin added six digs as well.
In the second set, the Blue and Gold were tied 5-5, but a Fighting Muskie 5-0 run forced a JCU timeout. The Blue Streaks refused to give up, despite being down five points. John Carroll surged back behind multiple kills from Jessica Liddle, Brooke Hjerpe, Calamunci, and Kailee Herbst to make it a one-point set at 19-18. Nevertheless, the Fighting Muskies were able to finish off the Blue Streaks, going on a 6-2 run to end the set and win 25-20.
The third set, however, proved to be the most competitive one. After falling behind 5-1 in the early going, the Blue and Gold rallied to tie the set at 10-10. Kills from Hjerpe and Calamunci kept JCU afloat as the tie carried to 15 apiece.
Unfortunately, the Fighting Muskies went on a 6-1 before the Blue Streaks used a timeout. Nevertheless, the Blue Streaks kept it competitive after five attack errors and a service error trimmed the Muskingum lead to 23-22 forcing the Muskies to use their first timeout of the night. However, the Blue & Gold fell 25-23 in the final set.
John Carroll led Muskingum in assists (31-29) and digs (65-53). Calamunci (10) and Hjerpe (7) led JCU in kills, as Bartolone finished with 21 assists, and Coughlin added 16 digs on the night.
The Blue and Gold will be back in action on September 25 where they will take on Denison and Earlham at Denison University with the first match slated to start at 12 p.m.
