SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – With backs against the wall, Saturday night's trip to Dominican looked to be an early return to Rocklin, but fate would have it otherwise. The evening was destined for five sets, setting up three career-highs and a record-matching performance, as the Warriors pulled off the reverse sweep.
Jessup, now winners of two in a row, are one-off starting a winning streak, as Saturday began a six-match road trip. The Warriors head to San Francisco next on Thursday.
The play of Jessup's outside hitters stole the show on Saturday, starting with senior
Madalyn Miller, whose 24 kills match the program record for most in a match. Miller ties her old teammates Marina Gonzalez (2022) and Mary Padilla (2021), who were the first to achieve the feat. Miller's career showing came on a .217 hitting performance while adding two block assists to her line as well.
Joining Miller with a career-best performance was
Eliana Sheridan, another senior on the squad, as she racked up 20 kills on the night. Sheridan previously had a Jessup high of 14 kills during her two years with the Warriors, as she shattered that mark in the win Saturday.
Setting up these attackers was
Kenzie Carpenter, as the setter dished out a career-best 53 assists. Carpenter also added 18 digs.
The night began with Dominican taking the first set after extra points were needed, 27-25. The second set was also stretched past 25, but again, the Penguins claimed the two-point swing at the end to claim victory, 28-26.
With backs against the wall, the Warriors settled down.
A 7-4 run to begin set three had the Warriors out and running, as the Warriors consistently kept the advantage around four until a 3-0 run late moved the needle to 20-14. Following a 3-0 run by Dominican to claw back, Jessup ended the set with a 5-2 run of their own to extend the match 25-19.
Jessup then went on to win the fourth, 25-17, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
Dominican responded well after losing back-to-back sets, as they opened the fifth with a 6-3 lead. Jessup came back with a momentum-swinging 4-0 run, taking a 7-6 lead near the midway point. With the score eventually at 10-10, the Penguins charged to a 4-0 run, but Jessup would not back down. Four Miller kills were part of a 6-0 Jessup run to end the match, as the Warriors claimed victory with a 16-14 fifth-set decision.
Jessup is now 7-8 overall and 3-5 within the PacWest under first-year head coach
Kyle Steele.
The six-match road trip the Warriors are on will run through the first week of November, as the Warriors will not return home until November 9. Tickets for Jessup's five remaining home matches can be purchased
HERE.
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Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. 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 (Instagram & X).
