SURPRISE, Ariz. – For the first time in program history, the Warriors will play in the GSAC Championship Game tomorrow night. Taking on Vanguard Friday evening, Jessup pieced together a 3-1 victory, clinching more than just a shot at the title tomorrow night.
"I don't think it's set in just yet," said head coach
Tiger Shelton after the match. "I think it's just another game. Like I said after our last match, these girls never say die. And I know everybody's waiting for us to go away, but they just keep playing."
Friday night's win sends Jessup to the GSAC Championship Game where they will take on the top-seed in the tournament, Westmont College. Westmont climbed back from a 2-1 deficit against Life Pacific in Friday's opener.
On top of the program's first trip to the conference title game, Friday's outcome clinches another scenario. With Westmont already secured an automatic bid to the national tournament with their regular season conference win, Jessup too receives an automatic bid to nationals, as the GSAC holds two automatic bids in the national tournament.
"I'm just really happy for our program," added Shelton. "I'm really happy for our school. I'm really happy for, you know, the administration and everybody who put all their hopes and dreams that we're able to do something like this because, you know, it's a lot of pressure."
Marina Gonzalez led all players Friday night with 17 kills, doing so with a .161 hitting percentage. Gonzalez also added 13 digs.
Madalyn Miller was also in double-figures, finishing the match with 14 kills.
Shelton spoke about Gonzalez's night, adding, "Marina went out and played pretty good. She had a small off period but then came back and got like four kills in a row. She stepped up for us in a really big moment."
The Warriors looked good from the start, taking a six-point lead midway through the first set on a
Mallory Pazin service ace. Vanguard tried to climb back into the set, drawing within one, but a 6-1 run for the Warriors wrapped up a 25-19 opening victory.
Vanguard responded well from their opening set loss, as the Lions roared to a 15-8 lead in the second. But the Warriors would not surrender, drawing within two at 17-15 thanks to an ace from
Madison Marlow. Extra points would eventually be needed in the set, as Vanguard evened the match with a 26-24 victory.
All square entering the third, this is where Jessup turned the tides.
Jessup dominated the third set, taking their lead up to 21-7. Leading 24-8, the Warriors saw set point and a chance to hold the Lions to single digits. But Vanguard refused to quit, scoring five straight before a service error gave the Warriors the 25-13 win.
One more set victory and the Warriors would be championship game bound.
The fourth set again needed extra points. Point 26 came on a kill from Miller. The final point came on one of seven kills from freshman
Paulina Harris.
Tomorrow the Warriors will look to win a conference championship, as they take on Westmont, a team Jessup split with in the regular season. While a trip to nationals is secured, the Warriors still want a shot at the GSAC gold.
"We have to do some business," said Shelton. "The National Championships are where we want to be good, and I think we're gonna start getting better if we take care of ourselves, and we get healthy. We can make a good run."
It will be Jessup's first trip to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament. Tomorrow's conference title match is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PST).
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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 & Instagram).
