Despite a spirited effort by the home team, it would be visiting Muskingum that came up with the big plays at the most opportune times in a 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22 victory over John Carroll Friday night at the DeCarlo Varsity Center.

Box Score


At the end of the night, it would be the play at the end of games one, two and four that decided a very close match in which Muskingum had scored 92 points while John Carroll tallied 91.

An evenly matched first game was nearly edged by Muskingum, 25-22. The key to the win for the Muskies was 17 kills, led by Gretchen Van der Slujis and Diana Biller.

In a hotly contested game two, Muskingum once again prevailed, 25-22. Long rallies and close battles at the net kept this one tight throughout, but the Blue Streaks' late rally was halted by a slide attack by Diana Biller following the Muskies' timeout.

Game three was John Carroll's best stretch, as a pair of MaryEileen Dalton (Chicago, IL, St. Ignatius Prep) blocks sealed the most decisive game of the night, 25-17.

In the fourth, John Caroll led early only to have Muskingum turn a 13-7 deficit into a 21-16 advantage. JCU staved off three match points before succumbing, 25-22.

On the evening, JCU actually had more kills (55-48) and digs (90-67) than Muskingum, but could not break the Muskies' lengthy winning streak in the series which extends back to 1996.

Muskingum is now 9-10 overall and 1-2 in the OAC, while John Carroll slips to 9-13 overall and 1-2 in league play