ROCKLIN, Calif. – After a tough night against the nation's top-ranked team, the Warriors continued their 2015 conference schedule as they hosted the Royals of Hope International University. With the gym packed and a deafening crowd, the Warriors battled from several match points to keep things going but couldn't battle long enough, falling 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 27-29, 26-24) to their conference foes.
The first two sets were an uphill climb for the Warriors. In the night's opening frame, Jessup battled late to trim the deficit, but the Royals cashed in a hot streak at the right time to take the opener 25-20. In set two, the Warriors looked to gain momentum but they were stopped by another strong frame from their counterparts. Hope International took the second set 25-18 and looked to make it a clean sweep on the night.
The third set looked to be where the Warriors got in their groove. Jessup battled with the tough Royals all set long, eventually evening things up at 25-25 to force the set into extra points. That is where things got interesting, as the Warriors saw their backs against the wall two separate times with match point. However, a late Warrior run capped off by an ace from freshman Jessica Yaranon (Roseville, CA) electrified the crowd in the Warrior Arena as Jessup took set three 29-27.
"We've really been working on battling back from deficits in practice," said head coach Shasta Millhollin-Bossom. "We have a couple of young freshman who just keep getting better-and-better with every match, and that's really helping. Everybody is doing a great job with realizing and accepting their role."
The battle continued into the fourth set, with both sides finding themselves deadlocked in a 13-13 tie at the halfway point. The Royals then went on a little run to pull ahead, but again Jessup clawed their way back to even things up at 20-20. In the closing stretches of the set the two teams traded point-for-point, eventually sending it past 25 for the second consecutive set. The luck wouldn't last forever as the Royals finally converted on a match point to take the final set of the night 26-24.
"We learned that we are right there with everybody else in the conference," said Millhollin-Bossom after her team's first full week of GSAC competition. "Mostly it's just realizing that we can win, which is a new thought for this team, but it shouldn't be. Once that clicks we're going to be unstoppable."
Jessup moves to 4-10 overall on the 2015 season with their record in GSAC play falling to 0-4. The Warriors next match is on Friday, Sep., 25 when they play host to San Diego Christian College. In their meeting in the Warrior Arena in 2014, the Warriors defeated San Diego in five sets (19-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13). Game time Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
