ROCKLIN, Calif. – Entering Tuesday on a five-match losing streak, the Warriors (3-6, 1-4) got back in the win column as they notched their first Golden State Athletic Conference victory of the year, defeating the Spirit of Ottawa University (Az.) (7-5,5-2) in a four-set battle.
 
Head coach Tiger Shelton was happy to see his team win and also gave kudos to his opponent, saying, "We are a young group of kids who played well, and that team we played was really good." He went on to say, "I've seen this potential every day in practice since August. We make our mistakes cause we are young, but we found ways to score." Shelton finished by saying, "Our offense worked the way we wanted it to, and defensively we were able to get the job done to help us win." 
 
The opening set started great for the Warriors as they led 3-0 out of the gate. After losing the lead, Jessup rallied with another three-point scoring run to tie the set at 8-8. However, the Spirit then scored nine unanswered points to take a commanding lead. Unable to overcome the large deficit, the Warriors dropped the first set 25-16.
 
In the second set, the Warriors established a stronger sense of consistency, and they didn't let the Spirit garner any momentum as they did in the first set. Jessup led early off a Jasmine Pinon kill, and they held on to the lead until OUAZ tied it up at 16-16. Staying under control, the Warriors showed their fight as they hung tough, claiming four of the final five points as Taylor Tarble laid down an emphatic kill to win the set, 25-23.
 
Set three started back-and-forth as neither team was able to pull away. The Warriors then jolted ahead, scoring seven of eight points to lead the Spirit 13-9. OUAZ wasn't going down without a fight, and they scurried back to take the lead for themselves, 15-14. After enduring several ties in the final moments, the Warriors caught fire and scored seven of the last eight points, winning 25-19.
 
Building off the momentum from the third set's prolific finish, the Warriors forced an OUAZ timeout, leading 14-7. Mallory Pazin, who had a terrific night serving, landed an ace that gave Jessup their largest lead of the set, 22-12. Fending off a late push from their GSAC foe, the Warriors edged the Spirit in set four, 25-17 to claim their first conference win.
 
Marry Padilla led the way with 18 kills to go with her team-high 18 digs, while it was Pazin with 20 assists and Botagoz Joslin recording 17. Also in double-figures in digs was Madison Marlow with 16. Tarble led the front line with four blocks, and Taylor MacCuish and Preslee Nunez each having three. Jessup ended with nine total service ace,s and it was Pazin posting a team-best with four and Padilla with three.
 
These teams will play again on Wednesday at 1 p.m. inside Warrior Arena as Jessup will look to complete the sweep. The match can be live-streamed HERE.  
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).