ASHLAND, Ore. - The Warriors came out firing in set one of their opening game at the SOU Classic defeating Lewis and Clark State College 25-22. Despite the solid start, Jessup would go on to lose the next three sets, 25-22, 25-19, 27-25. In game two the Warriors would battle it out with the No. 13 team in the country but came up short against Southern Oregon University, losing in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18.

"Our trip to Southern Oregon University has been great," head coach Shasta Millhollin reflected. "We did not get the results that we had hoped for, but what we did get was a lot of great competition against a ranked SOU team and a very physical Lewis & Clark State team. This year we wanted to play tough teams in pre-season to prepare us for GSAC competition." 

In the first set of the opening match, Jessup started off scoring the games first two points and they would keep the lead for the duration of the set. Late into the first set, an Ashanti Grayer kill gave Jessup a 20-15 lead, however, Lewis and Clark would come clawing back as they brought the set within one point. Jessup had a narrow 23-22 lead and back-to-back kills by Kacey Berger and Sydney Molander would end the opening frame.  

Set two was a closely contested battle that raged into the final moments. Neither team held more than a three-point lead. Late in the game, it appeared Jessup was primed for another victory as they took a 19-16 lead. Jessup's lead was short lived as Lewis and Clark ripped off a 9-3 scoring run to wrap up set two, 25-22. 

A successful block by Taylor Tarbel and Molander helped give Jessup an early 5-4 lead in set three, but this would be the last time in the set Jessup held a lead. Once again Lewis and Clark went on a 9-3 scoring run to take a 13-7. It would prove to be too much as the Warriors lost set three 25-19.

The final set of the match was a back-and-forth affair with Jessup falling late 27-25. Lewis and Clark found themselves up 19-16, but Jessup would go on a run of their own and tie the game up 22-22. After tying the game twice more, Jessup would surrender the games final two points to lose the match. 

Brianne Whitt had a team-high 20 assists and Madison Pelham had 15 of her own.  Grayer led the team in kills with 13 while  Molander had 9. Taylor Jacky and Alex DeMaranville-Robinson had 22 and 17 digs, respectively.

In the Warriors second game, they found themselves down 5-1 early in set one but would go on an 8-3 scoring run sparked off by a Jasmine Pinon kill to take a 9-8 lead. The Warriors would be unable to halt the SOU Raiders late 11-3 scoring attack and would lose the set 25-16. 

After trailing 6-1, the Warriors appeared down and out in set two. Jessup however, would show their resiliency and fought back tying the game 16-16. Even though the Warriors battled hard, they wouldn't regain the lead and lost 25-22. 

A late comeback run was spoiled in the third set and the Warriors lost 25-18. Leading the team in assists was again was Whitt with 14 and Pelham had 13.  Molander led with 8 kills while Vendela Williams finished with 5.  Jacky and Pelham finished with a team-high 7 digs. 

With conference play around the corner, Millhollin is looking forward to the competition, "We are fired up and ready to get back in the gym. This team has not even come close to scratching the surface of what we are capable of."

The Warriors will be back on their home floor in Warrior Arena as conference play will officially commence against Life Pacific University on September 7th at 7 PM. 
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).