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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jenn Folmer
Aislyn McQueen
2
Mount Union MTU 0-3,0-3 OAC
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 1-2,1-2 OAC
Mount Union MTU
0-3,0-3 OAC
2
Final
3
John Carroll JCU
1-2,1-2 OAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Mount Union MTU 23 22 25 25 10 (2)
John Carroll JCU 25 25 19 23 15 (3)
2
Mount Union MTU 0-4,0-4 OAC
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 2-2,2-2 OAC
Mount Union MTU
0-4,0-4 OAC
2
Final
3
John Carroll JCU
2-2,2-2 OAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Mount Union MTU 23 25 25 14 13 (2)
John Carroll JCU 25 22 15 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | By: Kyle Kelly, Senior Staff Writer

Blue Streaks Sweep Raiders the Hard Way in Thrilling 10-Set Tuesday

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – It was a 4.5-hour marathon that came away in the Blue and Gold's favor.
 
The John Carroll University Volleyball team went the distance twice with the University of Mount Union and crossed the finish line first both times.

A handful of streaks came to a close for the Blue Streaks following a doubleheader sweep against the Purple Raiders at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on March 16, 2021.
 
For the first time in Michele Benoit's tenure, John Carroll defeated Mount Union with a 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 23-25, 15-10) victory in the first game. It marked the first time the Blue Streaks have beaten the Purple Raiders since Oct. 27, 2016.
 
In the second game, the Blue Streaks rallied back from down two sets to (23-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-14, 15-13) to top the Purple Raiders 3-2.
 
"People see us as a small team because of our numbers and our height," Benoit said after the game. "But we are only going to get better. We have a bright future. It was a complete team effort and a great all-around effort from every player on our roster."
 
Tonight's pair of wins marks the first time John Carroll has beaten Mount Union two consecutive times since the 1995 and 1996 seasons. With both matches reaching five sets, it also now marks eight times in the 54-game series that JCU and the Purple Raiders have extended their match to five sets.
 
The Blue Streaks improve to 2-2 on the season and are next slated to travel to Bexley to take on Capital on Friday for a doubleheader that will commence at 6 p.m. 
 
Game One
 
The Blue Streaks held off a Mount Union comeback with a 15-10 victory in the final set.
 
John Carroll went ahead 7-1 in the first set with three service aces, two of which came from Lexi MacDonald. The Purple Raiders slowly crept back into the game and tied it at 15. This time, JCU answered with a 6-1 run that put them in the driver's seat to secure a 25-23 opening set victory.
 
The second set required several comebacks by Benoit and the Blue Streaks.
 
Initially, JCU went behind 4-0 but clawed its way back to tie the game. Both teams traded points and then the Purple Raiders sparked a 5-0 run that left the Blue Streaks behind 12-7.
 
With the help of three of Abigail Kirk's five kills in the set, John Carroll tied it at 16. In the later part of the second stanza, the Blue and Gold turned to Cassi Calamunci and Jennifer Follmer; the tandem each added a pair of kills that guided JCU to a 25-22 win.
 
Calamunci (17 kills, 19 digs) and Follmer (14 kills) were key in the Blue Streaks' match victory. Kirk contributed 10 kills.
 
"Every school in the conference knows that she is our big swing," Benoit said of Calamunci. "Everyone is focused on her. She keeping doing a great job of keeping the ball in play. It opens up opportunities for other players."
 
Despite being down two sets, Mount Union did not go away.
 
The Purple Raiders went on to claim the next two sets (19-25, 23-25).
 
In the fifth set, both teams went back and forth and knotted the score at 8. The Blue Streaks responded by scoring seven of the next 10 points to earn their first win of the season.
 
Ally Bartolone (on her birthday) and MacDonald aided the team with 23 assists each and a combined 23 digs. Anna Coughlin collected a team-best 19 digs.
 
Game Two
 
Both teams settled in during their stay on Mike Moran Court, which led to another close first set. During the first half of the opening set, both teams went score for score. Finally, John Carroll caught fire with a 7-0 run and the 18-12 lead.
 
The Purple Raiders battled back and tied it at 20. In crunch time, Kailee Herbst came up with two key kills that gave the Blue Streaks the 1-0 advantage in the match.
 
Mount Union's momentum from the first stanza carried into the next two sets, as they came away with a 2-1 match lead with two set victories.
 
After a 10-point loss in the third, the Blue Streaks exploded with a 5-0 output to begin the fourth set that kept them in the lead for the entire length of play.
 
Claire Ellerbruch (2 blocks, 2 kills) and Ava Nice (3 kills) helped get the Blue and Gold even the match.
 
In the final set of the night, Mount Union held the initial 4-1 lead; but with the help of two kills by Calamunci, JCU tied it at four. Eventually, the teams evened the score at 10. That was when Follmer took over to claim three of John Carroll's next five points, leading to the victory.
 
Calamunci led the way with 13 kills and Follmer was close behind with 12. Herbst matched a career-high 10 kills and Ellerbruch set a new career-best with 10 as well.
 
"Follmer played outstanding. She's improved tremendously since the beginning of the practice season," Benoit said. "She's a gamer. She's a steady-eddie."
 
On the defensive, Coughlin came away with a team-best 27 digs; Calamunci counted 16. Maddie Maziarz led the team with 22 assists and Bartolone benefited JCU with 20.
 
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