ROCKLIN, Calif. – Jessup Volleyball officially opened their Golden State Athletic Conference schedule with a matchup against Menlo College. After what was a back-and-forth start to the match, the Warriors turned on the jets in the fourth set to claim the victory. The Warriors are now 2-6 overall and 1-0 in the GSAC.
 
Head coach Tiger Shelton was excited to get GSAC play started with a win and knew their tough preseason greatly helped them. "We've been playing some high-level teams," said Shelton. He added, "So it's nice to come out and start conference with a win."
 
Shelton went on to say, "We came out in the first set, and it was a little tight, but I had confidence we were going to come through. The girls then started to feel good and get their stride, and that was really good to see."
 
Opening things up, it was Jessup who was on the wrong side of things as they got off to a slow start. Despite the rough start, the Warriors got the set within one point after a 6-0 scoring run. Menlo, however, responded by scoring seven of the final eight points of the set as Jessup lost 25-18.
 
In the second set, Jessup successfully used two separate 4-0 scoring spurts to take control leading 13-6. Keeping things going, Taylor Tarble got a kill on the outside, putting the Warriors up by ten, 22-12. Once again, though, the Oaks nearly battled back. However, Taylor MacCuish and Taylor Dilley were able to fend off the Menlo surge by recording the final three points for Jessup to win 25-19.
 
With the match even at one set win each, the Warriors were looking for separation. The third set proved to be the closest point differential, but it was Jessup who prevailed. The Oaks tied the set, 22-22, and the final three points were scored in succession, and Mary Padilla showed her power with the set winning kill, 25-22.
 
Through three sets of close volleyball, Jessup was looking to end things in the fourth frame. Instead, it was a hot start for the Warriors as they leaped out to a stellar 12-1 advantage. Keeping their foot on the gas pedal, the lead quickly ballooned out to 20-3. These conference foes then traded several points before the Warriors ended it scoring three straight to win 25-7.
 
Mary Padilla and Madalyn Miller each had double-digit kills with 14 and 10, respectively. Taylor Dilley notched three aces from the service line while Lauren Toon and Ella Hartford each had a pair. Mallory Pazin ended with 21 assists, and also in double-figures was Alyssa Bartlett with 10. Defensively Padilla was solid with a team-high 16 digs, and Dilley finished with 12.
 
Next up, the Warriors will head to Southern California for matches against San Diego Christian College and Vanguard University. Those contests will be played on September 17 at 6 p.m., and 2 p.m. the following night.  
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 and Instagram).