Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Playing in the Marcia French Memorial Invitational, the John Carroll University volleyball team looked to continue its strong start to the season. The Blue and Gold ran their record to 4-1 with sweeps over Grove City and Pitt-Bradford on Friday afternoon on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
 
Match 1 – Grove City College
John Carroll utilized a late second set rally to take the opening match of the day via a 3-set sweep over Grove City. The Blue Streaks won the match 25-18, 25-23, 25-15.
 
The Blue and Gold received double-digit kills from Leah Switalski (13) and Sarah Orlandi (10). Leading the way defensive was Sara Kaminski with 20 digs. The Blue and Gold defense held the Wolverines to a .047 attach percentage.
 
Katie Cosker provided a spark midway through the first set serving up back-to-back aces to push John Carroll's lead to 17-10. The Blue and Gold pushed their lead to eight on the ensuing point with a double block from Leah Svoboda and Switalski. Grove City made a late rally but kills from Kit O'Shaughnessy and Alexa Webber gave JCU the set 25-18. For the set Grove City hit -.057.
 
Down 21-19 the Blue Streaks needed a spark to come back against the Wolverines in the second set. Back-to-back kills from Alex Ehrett and Slater knotted the score at 21. Grove City jumped back out to a 2-point lead at 23-21 before JCU went on a 4-0 run to end the set. Back-to-back kills by Switalski sparked the rally that was ended by an Orlandi kill to give JCU the set 25-23.
 
The "Streaky Streaks" carried over the momentum to the start of the third set with two straight kills from Maddie McDowell putting JCU up for good at 3-1. A kill from Grove City's LeAnne Disco made it a 6-point John Carroll advantage but kills from Switalski and O'Shaughnessy pushed JCU's lead right back to eight. JCU would go on to take the third set 25-15.
 
Match 2 – Pitt-Bradford
The Blue and Gold stormed past Pitt-Bradford in the second match of the day needing just 55 minutes for the win. JCU would take the win 25-11, 25-17, 25-15.
 
Playing nearly everyone on her squad, third-year head coach Laura Rodeffer had four players tie for the team lead with five kills in Marge Carroll, Kayla Major, Switalski and Webber.
 
John Carroll wasted no time in the second match taking the first set from Pitt-Bradford in 14 minutes. The Blue and Gold jumped out to 15-3 lead behind two Cosker aces and kills from four different Blue Streaks. The Blue Streaks pushed their lead to 15 at 21-6 behind two aces from O'Shaughnessy. JCU would take the set 25-11 on a Peyton Kauffman ball-handling error.
 
Rodeffer started five freshmen in the second set. The Blue Streak youngsters rose to the occasion with the 25-17 win. JCU hit .233 in the frame and were led by Julianne McGervey's four kills on just eight swings.
 
Behind Mena Afsarifard's stellar serving JCU jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the third set with four of the Blue Streaks' points coming via aces. Four straight JCU kills pushed the Blue Streaks' lead to nine at 14-5. JCU would coast to the 25-15 win.
 
John Carroll returns to action on Saturday with two matches in the Marcia French Memorial Invitational. JCU plays Hiram at noon and Wooster at 2 p.m. Both matches will take place at Baldwin Wallace in Berea, Ohio.