ROCKLIN, Calif. – Coming off a five-set loss less than 24 hours ago, the Warriors went back to work on Saturday, looking to take down Hope International. In a match that looked to be headed in the same direction as Friday, Jessup could not capitalize late, allowing HIU to win 3-1.
 
After the match, head coach Tiger Shelton gave credit to his opponents.
 
"It was a really solid game by them defensively. I mean, we put some balls down, and they were all over making amazing plays. So, you know, it just wasn't our day."
 
Jessup's offensive attack was sparked by Madalyn Miller, who topped her 13-kill performance from a night ago by finishing with 16 on Saturday.
 
Shelton touched on Miller's weekend, adding, "Maddy had a really good performance. She's starting to feel better again. She's coming off an injury and really starting to score points and swing like she used to and play like she used to."
 
The tide began to swing in the opening set, with both teams deadlocked at 19, when HIU's Jacqueline Foster went to the service line. Foster sparked a 5-0 run for the Royals, capping with a 25-21 victory in the set.
 
Set two ended with an identical score line of 25-21, in favor of the Royals.
 
Good things finally began to go in the direction of Jessup in the third set, starting with a pair of combo blocks from Miller and Taylor MacCuish. MacCuish did it all in the third, as she ripped off three consecutive aces as well to lead the Warriors to a 25-16 win.
 
It was on to the fourth, and with the Warriors needing a win to stay alive, they found themselves leading 19-18.
 
A 6-2 run by the Royals ensued, giving HIU a match point opportunity, forcing the Warriors to create a fourth set comeback for the second day in a row. They got the start they needed thanks to a Miller kill and a Lauren Toon ace, but they could not get to 25 as an attack error ended the match at 25-23.
 
Shelton was asked after the match if his team ever shows signs of quitting. He responded by stating, "No, they don't. There's enough good people on the team that if I throw the right combination, we can get something to happen."
 
The Warriors will look to rebound after an 0-2 weekend, putting them .500 within the GSAC. The status quo all season has been to work on serving, passing, and defense.
 
"That's what we've been working on for four, five weeks," added Shelton. "It's our number one priority all the time. I started to think that maybe it's so much of a focus on me that maybe I should take the focus off, but I don't know."
 
Jessup will get their rebound opportunity next Friday when they take on Westmont College in Santa Barbara.
   
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).