ROCKLIN, Calif. – In front of a packed Warrior Arena, Jessup made their 2023 home debut on Tuesday as they took on the Bobcats of UC Merced. In a back-and-forth battle that needed five sets, Jessup pulled out a thrilling victory in front of their hometown fans.
The win moves the Warriors to 4-2 on the year and 3-0 in five-set battles. Jessup saw six of their matches reach the fifth set in 2022.
When asked if his team feels comfortable playing five, given their experience, head coach
Tiger Shelton noted, "I don't think it bothers them like a lot of teams. We're seemingly getting better at five-set matches, and that's what's really important."
The Warriors were powered by a season-high 17 kills from junior
Madalyn Miller. Miller hit .361 in the victory and shined brightest in the closing moments as five of her kills came in the fifth set alone.
Shelton spoke about Miller's night, adding, "To see (Miller) come out and hit .361, that was really good. That's a really good sign to see her banging balls."
Jessup stormed out to an early lead when they won the opening set 25-21. The Bobcats then clawed their way back into contention, taking the second (25-21) and third (25-18) sets to pull ahead 2-1. It wouldn't be easy for the Warriors in the fourth, either, as the two teams traded points until a 4-0 Jessup run forced a Merced timeout with the Warriors leading 16-11.
Kills from
Emma Miller and
Eliana Sheridan would wrap up a 25-20 victory in the fourth, sending the match to a decisive final set.
The two teams again traded points in the fifth, splitting the score at eight as the two teams flipped sides. The side change worked for Jessup at the start as the Warriors ripped off three straight points, but then the Bobcats again came back with three of their own.
Tied at 11, Jessup saw kills from
Taylor MacCuish, Miller, and
Sadie White to wrap up a 4-0 run and clinch victory.
MacCuish, Sheridan, and White all closed the match with ten kills. Setters
Kenzie Carpenter (23) and
Alexis Kepa (19) set up the bulk of those kills, while
Lauren Toon led defensively with 14 digs.
It was a packed house inside Warrior Arena. Fans came out to see the defending GSAC Champions for the first time, along with another debut in Jessup Cheer. Shelton spoke about the energy the crowd offered in his postgame interview.
"We love playing in front of a big crowd," said Shelton. "They get excited, maybe a little too excited. Maybe a little too much adrenaline. But I think we cleaned everything up. It was a great atmosphere, for sure."
The Warriors will be hoping for another big turnout on Friday night as they host Country Night. Fans are encouraged to bring their boots and cowboy hats as the music in Warrior Arena goes country.
Friday will also be the GSAC opener for Jessup. The Warriors will be hosting OUAZ at 6 p.m. on a night that will feature a special tribute to the 2022 GSAC Champions. Tickets are on sale
HERE.
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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 Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
