ROCKLIN, Calif. – Playing in their second match in back-to-back days, the Warriors lost a five-set battle to Ottawa University (AZ).
 
After the game head coach Tiger Shelton shared his thoughts. "We are right there," said Shelton. "We were playing one of the top teams in our conference right now and we were right there with them. They are a good team and so are we, we proved that today even though we came up short."
 
Effort and energy were seen all throughout this match and the Warriors leaped out to a 6-2 lead in the opening set as a result. Jessup fended off a run and broke a 6-6 tie, pulling ahead and leading 16-12 midway through.
 
Unfortunately for the Warriors, their lead was no more as Ottawa took charge scoring seven unanswered points. The run was too much to overcome and Jessup lost set one, 18-25.
 
Set two was an evenly matched set throughout. Each team had multiple runs but Jessup was able to prevail. The Warriors held a slim one-point lead that quickly evaporated and suddenly they were down 15-19.
 
Not willing to give in, the Warriors responded with a 5-0 run themselves to retake the lead, 20-19. With the set tied at 22-22, Jessup bolted away with the final three points to claim the set 25-22.
 
The third set was another tough one for Jessup as they had a strong rally partway through, but a slow start and tough finish was too much. The Warriors went on to lose the set 25-20.
 
This resilient group stayed the course and dug deep as set four began. Unlike the previous sets which were full of large scoring spurts for each team, this one saw ten different ties. The final tie was broke with a momentum-changing kill from Taylor MacCuish putting the Warriors up 21-20.
 
With the tides turning, Jessup scored the final four points as Preslee Nunez and Cloe Gunter successfully blocked an attack from the Spirit to win 25-21.
 
Taylor Dilley led the team in kills with 18 and also in double-figure kills was Mary Padilla with 14. Lauren Toon was tops in digs with 20 and Padilla logged another double-double as she added 17 digs. The front line was led by Preslee Nunez as she posted four blocks while Taylor Tarble and Cloe Gunter had 3 each.
 
Mallory Pazin was in control of the offense with 18 assists while Ella Hartford ended with 14. From the service line, the Warriors had Madison Marlow, Mary Padilla, and Emily Leal each end with two service aces.
 
The Warriors will head to Santa Barbara for their next contest as they'll play Westmont College on October 1 at 7 PM.

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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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter and Instagram).