Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Cassi and Ally
Calamunci and Bartolone celebrated career milestones at home on Friday. 
3
Winner Geneva GEN 3-6,0-0 PAC
1
John Carroll JCU 6-5,0-0 OAC
Winner
Geneva GEN
3-6,0-0 PAC
3
Final
1
John Carroll JCU
6-5,0-0 OAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Geneva GEN 25 27 12 25 (3)
John Carroll JCU 22 25 25 21 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Paul Raglow-DeFranco, Staff Writer

Volleyball Drops Home Match but Calamunci and Bartolone Hit Milestones

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Coming off Wednesday's loss to the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan, the Blue Streaks looked to get back on track at home on Friday at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. 

While the Blue Streaks fed off the crowd's energy and kept it competitive throughout the match, the contest fell in favor of Geneva College. 

The Blue Streaks dropped a second straight home game, 3-1, (25-22, 27-25, 25-12, 25-21), this time against the Fighting Tornadoes.

The bright notes of the match were two milestones. Cassi Calamunci achieved her 1,000th career kill at John Carroll, and Ally Bartolone registered her 2,000th career assist as a Blue Streak. 

Set One
The Blue Streaks battled hard in the first set, but ultimately fell short, 25-22. Mistakes were the story of the first set as a few errors by the Blue Streaks separated them from an opening victory. Despite the errors, the Blue Streaks fought to the very end and came up just short.

Bartolone achieved her 2,000th assist on the penultimate point for the set. Despite the defeat, Bartolone had reason to celebrate, as 2,000 assists is an excellent achievement, a milestone well worth commemorating. 

"I'm thankful for John Carroll Volleyball," said Bartolone. "I've loved these four years at John Carroll. This is an awesome accomplishment. And to do it with my best friend [Cassi] makes it all the more special." 
 
Set Two
Extra serves were needed in the second set to determine a winner. Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks came up just short, losing 27-25. The Blue Streaks improved during the second set, committing only four attack errors, with plenty of smart plays at the net highlighting a strong effort by the hosts. 
 
Geneva's serves made the difference as the visitors totaled three aces. The Blue Streaks had a chance to pull through game late in the set. The Blue Streaks rattled off three straight aces to tie it at 25-25 in dramatic fashion with the crowd roaring. However, Geneva went on to win the next two points. As a result, the Blue Streaks stared at a 2-0 deficit.
 
Set Three
The third set started off very similar to the first two sets, as both teams went back and forth. 
 
The rallies became exceedingly competitive as both teams were beginning to hit their strides. The crowd erupted as early on in set three when Cassi Calamunci hit a career milestone of 1,000 kills. Calamunci's impact on the game at the net can't be overstated, so this is certainly a number worth celebrating. 

"It feels great to reach this milestone," said Calamunci. "I love John Carroll Volleyball. And to set the record with Ally is awesome." 
 
Calamunci's milestone seemed to be the momentum switch that the Blue Streaks needed as it took its largest lead of the day, 20-9. Errors plagued the Fighting Tornados in set three as Geneva fell to the Blue Streaks, 25-12.
 
Set Four
The Fighting Tornados started off with a fast 4-0 lead, but the Blue Streaks were able to claw back to a 10-10 game. From there, the game went back and forth, with both teams alternately re-claiming the lead throughout the majority of the set.

Following a timeout from the Blue Streaks, the Fighting Tornadoes rallied off four straight points to take a commanding 18-14 lead. However, as the Blue Streaks has done all season, it fought its way back to pull within one point. Despite the strong comeback from the Blue and Gold, Geneva was able to finish off the fourth set with an emphatic kill to win 25-21.
 
Cassi Calamunci led the JCU team in kills with 14, while Jillian Kellick and Kailee Herbst added nine of their own. Ally Bartalone topped the team in assists, logging 35.
 
Lexi MacDonald led the way defensively for the Blue Streaks with 18 total digs, as Anna Coughlin totaled 12 as well.
 
John Carroll (6-5) will hit the road on Saturday, heading to Oberlin for a tri-match with the Yeowomen and North Park University. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors