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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Lexi MacDonald vs. CMU
The Blue Streaks won a set vs. #1 Juniata but lost the match.
3
Winner Muhlenberg MUHLENBE 10-4, 0-0
2
John Carroll JOHN CAR 9-3, 0-0
Winner
Muhlenberg MUHLENBE
10-4, 0-0
3
Final
2
John Carroll JOHN CAR
9-3, 0-0
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Muhlenberg MUHLENBE 30 25 19 15 15 (3)
John Carroll JOHN CAR 28 20 25 25 12 (2)
1
John Carroll JOHN CAR 9-4, 0-0
3
Winner Juniata JUNIATA 11-0, 0-0
John Carroll JOHN CAR
9-4, 0-0
1
Final
3
Juniata JUNIATA
11-0, 0-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JOHN CAR 25 15 22 12 (1)
Juniata JUNIATA 23 25 25 25 (3)

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

Volleyball Drops Two Spirited Matches Against Muhlenberg and #1 Juniata

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The early part of the 2023 campaign has been filled with road trips for John Carroll Volleyball, including a difficult one on Saturday.

The Blue Streaks headed 4 hours east into the heart of Pennsylvania for a pair of matches. The first against Muhlenberg College and the second vs. Juniata College. Both proved to be challenging foes, especially Juniata, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions and the current #1 in the AVCA poll.

To start, Blue Streaks fought to a five-set loss against the Mules: 28-30, 20-25, 25-19, 25-15, and 12-15. Then, JCU experienced defeat at the hands of the Eagles: 25-23, 15-25, 22-25, 12-25. 

The Blue Streaks drop to 9-5 on the year following the pair of defeats. 

JCU vs. Muhlenberg

Saturday's opening set proved to be quite the back-and-forth affair. The Blue Streaks and Mules traded small runs, with a pair of service aces by Jessica Liddle and Payton Miozzi helping JCU sneak ahead, 18-15. A 5-1 run by Muhlenberg placed JCU on the precipice, but a pair of Jennifer Follmer kills pulled JCU back from the cliff. The teams traded jabs as the set continued on and on, until the Mules managed to string two points together for a 30-28 win.

Muhlenberg shot ahead in the second set, firing out to an 8-2 start. The lead widened to 15-6 before JCU rebounded. Attack errors haunted the Mules, as the Blue Streaks found a groove to slim the deficit to 16-15. However, the Mules figured things out and finished off JCU down the stretch, 25-20.

The Blue & Gold held the upper hand for much of the third set, though not by much. Each time John Carroll looked to extend the margin beyond reach, Muhlenberg snuck back into it. That is, until Mary Kate Sheehan, Follmer, and Kendra Dziubinski tabbed kills for a 25-19 victory.

Hailey Williams powered the Blue Streaks to a fantastic start to the fourth set. She toed the service line again and again, hammering home three aces while Marissa Lynch, Jillian Kellick, and Dziubinski all added kills for a 9-1 lead. Muhlenberg errors helped JCU extend the advantage to 19-5. The Mules made it slightly closer late, but JCU won handily, 25-15, to force a tiebreaking set. JCU notched a .448 hitting percentage in this strong set. 

As to be expected, the fifth set a battle. Despite three early kills by Follmer, the Blue Streaks found themselves in an 8-5 hole. But then, Sheehan led a JCU charge, and the visitors snuck ahead, 11-10. However, the Mules won the day, winning five of six points to win the war.

JCU made fewer mistakes and finished with a .228 attack percentage, but the Mules managed to get it done late in the fifth set. Positives still marked the match, with veterans and freshmen alike making a difference. 

Mary Kate Sheehan led the way with 13 kills. Jennifer Follmer also thrived with 10 kills. Maddie Maziarz and Haley Nicholson shared the stage setting, tabbing 22 and 20 assists, respectively. Maziarz tallied 18 digs and Lexi MacDonald followed close behind with 16.

JCU vs. Juniata 

The Blue Streaks did not play intimidated against the #1 ranked team in Division III. The visitors split the start, with an early 11-11 tie. Juniata threatened to take control with a 6-2 run, but then the Blue Streaks took a turn showcasing some magic. Juniata errors and kills by Marissa Lynch inspired a 7-0 run for JCU to 20-17. As expected, the Eagles punched back, but could not string together more than two points in a row. Kills by Kendra Dziubinski, Jennifer Follmer, and Jessica Liddle down the stretch ensured the Blue Streaks would deliver a shock to the nation's top team, 25-23.

A storm followed, as you'd expect from a top team suffering a setback. After the teams battled to a 9-9 draw, the Eagles thundered down a 7-0 run to take control of the set. JCU slimmed the deficit to within striking distance, but then Juniata fired up a 5-0 run late to seal a 25-20 set two win. 

While the hosts roared early in set three for a 7-2 advantage, a Haley Nicholson and a Lynch kill helped to even it up with a 5-0 rally. The teams traded jabs, with John Carroll getting contributions from a host of players. The Blue Streaks stuck around late, with a Liddle ace and a Sheehan kill. But the hosts sent JCU to the brim with a 25-22 win. 

The Eagles never doubted the outcome in the fourth set. Juniata burst out to a 6-1 lead to start and never truly looked back. The Eagles finished out the day with a 25-12 win in the fourth and final set.

For the match, Marissa Lynch and Kendra Dziubinski tied for 6 kills to lead the team. Haley Nicholson led the team with 14 assists, while Maddie Maziarz chipped in 12. Lexi MacDonald topped the backline effort with 14 digs, while Payton Miozzi notched 9 digs. 

The Blue Streaks will return home at last on Wednesday, hosting Penn State Behrend for a 7 pm match. 
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