Searching for their sixth straight win, and first win all-time against Mount St. Joseph, the Blue Streak volleyball team started its run in the John Carroll University Volleyball Invitational. The Blue Streaks secured an 8-1 record with a 25-16, 25-13, 25-23 sweep over the Lions.

The first set featured back-and-fourth action for the majority of the frame. The set had 10 ties before sophomore Katie Cosker served up a 7-0 run for the Blue Streaks to break the game open. Cosker was not the only stand out on the service line for the Blue and Gold, who had three aces. Sophomore Kit O'Shaughnessy recorded two in back-to-back fashion, helping John Carroll to a 25 – 16 win in the first set.

Recording 11 kills in the set, JCU finished with a .435 attack percentage. 

"Volleyball can be a game of runs, and sometimes you just need to be on the right side of that run," said ?JCU head coach Laura Rodeffer.

Power from the service line continued for the Blue Streaks in the second set. Freshman Mena Afsarifard secured in the win for the Blue and Gold as a catalyst for an 8-0 run that pused a JCU lead from 12-7 to 20-7. As a team, JCU recorded four aces in the set to go along with its 10 kills.

Junior Sarah Orlandi and sophomore Alexa Webber led the Blue Streaks in the frame with four and three kills, respectively. JCU also took advantage of the 11 errors and -.172 percent attacking the Lions produced in the set. A dominant performance throughout led to a 25-13 win and a 2-0 lead heading into the third and final set of the fifth all-time meeting between the two teams.

The third set would be the memorable one from the evening. A strong serving performance early from the Lions pushed the Blue and Gold on their heels. The Lions jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and at one point, and had JCU trailing by eight at 14-6.  Orlandi helped ignite the comeback, as her serving put the Blue and Gold within two (17-15), and O'Shaughnessy tied the game at 18-18. The two traded points several attack errors down the stretch proved to be the Lions downfall.

Rodeffer was glad with how the team reacted and came back to win the third set.

"Sometimes they wait a little longer than I would hope," Rodeffer said. "But overall I was pleased with their play down the stretch."

Webber led John Carroll with nine kills while hitting .316. Sara Kaminski had a match-high 11 digs, while O'Shaughnessy had 29 assists to run the offense.

John Carroll continues in the John Carroll University Volleyball Invitational Saturday, Sept. 13,against Kenyon College at 1 p.m.