Taking a break from conference play, the John Carroll University volleyball team was in search of a momentum booster with a big weekend looming.
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The Blue Streaks responded with their second sweep of the week with a 25-15, 25-19, 25-16 sweep over visiting Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday evening inside the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.
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The Blue Streaks (16-3) started the first set hot as they went on a 10-1 run aided by six attack errors from Battling Bishops (12-7). After John Carroll was up 18-6, Ohio Wesleyan tried to chip away from the lead going on an 8-2 run to bring the score within six. The hopes of the Battling Bishops' were eliminated as the Blue Streaks were able to go on a 4-0 run to finish the set 25-15. JCU would outhit OWU .385 to .000 in the set.
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John Carroll and Ohio Wesleyan had a back-and-forth exchange at the beginning of the second set. Ohio Wesleyan went on an 11-3 run making the score 12-7. Finding themselves behind five, the Blue Streaks went on a 10-2 run and never looked back as they won the set 25-19. Sophomores
Leah Switalski and
Alexa Webber led the Blue Streaks in the frame with four and three kills, respectively. The Blue Streaks were able to take advantage of the eight errors and the .053 attack percentage of the Battling Bishops.
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The momentum from both victories carried into the third set for the Blue Streaks. John Carroll was up two at 8-6 and went on an 8-2 run to open an 8-point lead at 16-8. John Carroll was able to secure the set with a final score of 25-16. John Carroll was able to take advantage of more poor hitting from Ohio Wesleyan as the Battling Bishops hit -.026 for the frame. Junior
Sarah Orlandi led JCU with three kills in the set.
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John Carroll ended the match with 39 kills and a hitting percentage of .293. Freshman outside hitter
Julianne McGervey led the Blue Streaks in kills totaling nine. Webber was able to contribute to the abundance of kills with eight of her own. Orlandi would finish the night with six kills and four blocks.
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John Carroll heads to Wittenberg for a tri-match on Saturday, Oct. 11. JCU will take on Washington & Lee at 3 p.m. and fifth-ranked Wittenberg at 5 p.m.
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