ROCKLIN, Calif. - The women's volleyball team opened the season hosting an eight-team tournament setting the bar high from the start. Picking up where they left off, records continue to be set by the young squad who went 4-2 over the three-day tournament.

"Opening week for us has been wild! For most teams, playing 6 matches in 3 days is a tall order," head coach Shasta Millhollin said. "We are proud of our team for continuing to make adjustments as needed throughout the tournament." 

The Warriors played their first game of the season on Wednesday against St. Katherine College where they swept their opponent; 25-19, 25-16 and 25-23. Leading the charge was returning sophomore Taylor Jacky and junior Makenzie Reeder-Esparza with 9 kills each set up by returning setter Jessica Williams with 25 assists and 2 aces.

Moving right into game two, Jessup welcomed Bethel College to their home court taking it 3-1 (25-9, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22). Jacky set the pace with an additional two kills to total 11 kills in game two and 20 on the day followed by Danielle (Dani) Schoen with 10 and Reeder-Esparza with 8 (17 total).

In the second day of play, the Warriors took on Northwest Christian (1-3) and Simpson University (3-1). The Beacons got ahead early taking the first two sets before the Warriors bounced back for the 25-20 advantage in the third. Down by 9 the Warriors came within 5 points (23-18) but were unable to seal the deal taking their first loss of the season (19-25, 24-16, 25-20, 21-25).

But the day wasn't over yet with the Simpson Redhawks waiting for both team's second match of the day. Tied at one set all, the Warriors to took the final two sets led by the big three killing it on the net, Reeder-Esparza (12), Kassidy Heuvelhorst (9) and Jacky (8).

The final day of play was like the previous, off to a rough start with a loss to the University of Antelope Valley, but a bittersweet finish defeating future conference opponent, Life Pacific 3-1.

Unable to nab the first set (23-25), Jessup reloaded with back-to-back sets (25-21, 25-18) to push it to a fourth with the momentum in their favor. Jacky continued to dominate the outside with a career-high 19 kills, tied for fourth in program history for a single-game, while Williams broke her own career record with 54 assists, just 9 shy of the single-match record of 63 in the record books.

Millhollin reflected, "As a coaching staff, the highlight of this tournament was seeing our players work so well together. We had the loudest, most encouraging bench in the whole tournament. No matter what happened on the court, our bench was cheering on the team and making sure we had the momentum that we needed to push through each match."

The Warriors will hit the practice gym again on Monday along with the first day of classes before heading to Redding, looking to carry on the momentum with the Simpson Volleyball Classic August 24-25.

  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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat)