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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Maziarz
Maziarz hit double digits in digs and assists in the first match. 
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 3-2,0-0 OAC
2
Penn St.-Behrend PSUB 3-1,0-0 AMCC
Winner
John Carroll JCU
3-2,0-0 OAC
3
Final
2
Penn St.-Behrend PSUB
3-1,0-0 AMCC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
John Carroll JCU 22 25 25 16 15 (3)
Penn St.-Behrend PSUB 25 22 21 25 6 (2)
1
Westminster TITANS 6-1
3
Winner John Carroll JCU 4-3
Westminster TITANS
6-1
1
Final
3
John Carroll JCU
4-3
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Westminster TITANS 25 19 19 16 (1)
John Carroll JCU 16 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Volleyball Opens PSU Behrend Tournament with Pair of Great Victories

ERIE, Pa. -- Early season tournaments can tell you a lot about a team, and this weekend's Penn State Behrend Tournament has displayed a characteristic of the Blue Streaks -- a tough willpower.

John Carroll University Volleyball won both of its Friday matches on the road in the opening day of the tournament, and both were impressive.

The Blue Streaks bested Penn State Behrend in the opener, 3-2: 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 15-6. 

Then in the second match, the Blue Streaks upended previously unbeaten Westminster (PA): 16-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-16. 

Match 1

The first match of the Penn State Behrend Tournament felt a bit similar to the opening contest of the Case Western Reserve Tournament last weekend.

The Blue Streaks fell behind in the first set of the match with Penn State Behrend. The hosts fired out to a 3-0 lead, but John Carroll knotted the contest at four. The contest seesawed back and forth, with eight more ties before the contest reached 22-all. Head Coach Michele Benoit then called a timeout to scheme the final points.

Unfortunately, the Lions stood stronger in the homestretch. The hosts won all three points, earning the 25-22 set win. 

The Blue Streaks flipped the score in the next set. The Lions did start out strong again, building a 4-0 advantage. John Carroll chipped away at the margin, drawing to within 12-11 after kills by Abigail Kirk and Cassi Calamunci. The Lions had other plans, tallying four straight points to force a JCU timeout at 12-16. 

After the break, the Blue Streaks took full control. Penn State Behrend won the first point after the timeout, but then JCU tore off seven points in a row, as Calamunci pinned in the Lions with a pair of aces and JCU's front line went to work. The Lions staunched the bleeding at 19-18, but then a Lion error and a Jenn Follmer kills led to a Lions timeout. 

Two Maddie Maziarz aces and a Kailee Herbst kill put the win within reach, but the Lions scored four straight in attempt to ward off the set loss. But a block by Herbst and Jessica Liddle ended things at 25-22. 

The third set saw six tie scores to a 10-10 tie. The Blue Streaks then cruised to a 10-5 run, highlighted by a pair of aces and a pair of blocks for the Blue and Gold. Penn State Behrend called a timeout in response. 

Calamunci and Follmer showcased strength up front to help push the hosts to the edge at 24-17. The pesky Lions scored four straight to prevent an early defeat, but a Brooke Hjerpe kill ensured a 25-21 conquest. 

The Lions roared out of the gate in the fourth set. Penn State Behrend dashed to a 10-3 lead before Benoit saw enough to call time. The set was never very close, as the Lions did everything necessary to pad the cushion and ensure a grudge set, winning the fourth set, 25-16.

Calamunci and Herbst set the tone for the deciding set. Two Herbst kills and a Calamunci ace pushed John Carroll ahead 6-1 in the early going. The lead dwindled to three at just 8-5, but the Blue Streaks never doubted themselves.

Lexi MacDonald connected on three aces to fuel a 7-1 run down the stretch. The Blue Streaks left no doubt in the fifth, with an emotional 15-6 conquest for the victory.

For the match, Herbst led the team with 13 kills, and Calamunci chipped in 11. Ally Bartolone topped the team in assists with 24, and Maziarz followed with 17. Anna Coughlin (18), Calamunci (14), and Maziarz (11) all contributed double-digit dig numbers. 

Match 2

Following a brief turnaround, the Blue Streaks hit the reset button to battle the Titans of Westminster. 

The Blue Streaks did not disappoint.

John Carroll allowed the Titans to take the opening set. Westminster showed why it walked into the match undefeated, as the Pennsylvania squad notched a 25-16 win in the opening set. 

But from there on out, it was all John Carroll.

The Blue Streaks snagged set two, 25-18. Then the Clevelanders rolled in the third set as well, 25-19.

John Carroll finished the job in the fourth set, capturing a 25-16 victory.

Now 4-3 on the year, the Blue Streaks will face Bluffton at 1 pm and SUNY Fredonia at 3 pm to wrap the PSU Behrend Tournament this weekend. 
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