The John Carroll volleyball senior class has been on a self-described "roller coaster" journey for the last four seasons.

On Saturday, they made it clear that their ride is not over yet.

The Blue Streaks defeated Capital in three sets (30-28, 25-18, 25-21), as the program celebrated Senior Day at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.

"This is the confidence booster we needed after the last loss [at Baldwin Wallace], said senior Alex Ehrett. "Getting our confidence back can hopefully bolster us in the standings going forward."

Ehrett, along with Sara Kaminski, Sarah Orlandi and Alyssa Zollos were honored before the match. The Blue Streaks now stand at 13-12, and 4-3 in the OAC. They sit in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference with Mount Union and Muskingum.  

Orlandi led all players with 15 kills, while Leah Switalski notched 12. Kit O'Shaughnessy recorded 34 assists to pair with 17 digs.

The first set was one of the longest the Blue Streaks have played all season. Capital (6-21, 1-6 OAC) fought back from a 23-19 deficit to extend the set, and the teams traded points until the game was tied at 28. Kayla Major followed a block by Maddie McDowell and Switalski with an ace, giving the Blue Streaks the 30-28 victory.

Switalski had six kills in the set to lead JCU, and Kit O'Shaughnessy added 13 assists and 10 digs.

JCU ripped off the first seven points of the second set on the way to a 25-18 win. Capital battled back to close the score to 21-15, but late kills from O'Shaughnessy and Major helped finish off the Crusaders. Sarah Orlandi ended the set with four kills and O'Shaughnessy tallied 11 more assists. Capital was again undone by a second straight set with seven errors.

The Crusaders battled back in the third set, trailing 18-16 late in the game. An Ehrett kill to make it 21-16 took the air out of Capital and forced a timeout. The Crusaders fought to a 24-21 margin, but JCU finished off the afternoon with an Orlandi kill.

The four seniors were on the floor together for the match point. "It felt like all the hard work we've poured in came together on that play," Zollos said after the match. "All of what we've been through in my two years here and in their four."

"It's kind of surreal," commented Orlandi. "Coming in as freshmen and everything we had to push through, to be where we are now is weird but really cool."

Kaminski summed it up simply. "This is really special to be on this roller coaster with them, to be on the upswing, and be doing it with my best friends."

The Blue Streaks are back in action Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Alliance, as they take on Mount Union in a key match for conference tournament positioning.