POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The Warriors will live to see another day in Missouri, as a 3-1 victory against the College of the Ozarks secured the Warriors at least a runner-up finish in Pool B. Backed by another record-matching performance from senior
Madalyn Miller, Jessup will now get ready for a shot at first place in their pool.
Jessup, who are now 17-12 under head coach
Kyle Steele, have started pool play 2-0. Grace College, the Warriors' next opponent, is also 2-0, meaning the two schools are guaranteed a spot in Friday's semifinal. Lancaster Baptist and College of the Ozarks will not be advancing.
Miller, who already holds the Jessup record for kills in a season and a career, matched another record on Thursday as she finished the match with 24 kills. That matches the program record for kills in a match, which has now been done five times, the last being by Miller in the Warriors' five-set victory at Dominican earlier this season.
Thursday's 24-kill performance sets a new career-high for Miller in a four-set match, as she joins current teammate
Taylor Dilley and former teammate Marina Gonzalez as the only two to hit that number in four sets.
Miller, who was a Second-Team All-PacWest Conference selection, now has 384 kills this season.
Jessup started Thursday's match the same way they ended Wednesday's win, as they took the first set by the final of 25-19. The trend continued into the second, with the Warriors again securing a 25-19 victory, making it three straight by that score and five straight-set victories to begin the tournament.
But then the set streak came to an end, as the Bobcats claimed the third, 27-25. Jessup did not go down without a fight in the third, as they trailed 24-20, one point away from losing the set. Four straight Jessup points then pushed the set beyond 25, but it would be the Bobcats who came out with the upper hand.
The Warriors responded to the loss with a 5-0 run to start the fourth set, one they eventually took 25-18, with nine of those set four points coming off Miller kills.
Jessup also saw offensive production from
Eliana Sheridan, who paired nine kills with 11 digs.
Carolena Bogdanovich had a big day at the net, finishing with eight kills.
Paulina Harris finished with seven kills, four block assists, and two solo blocks.
One more match remains in pool play, as the Warriors will take on Grace College this afternoon at 1:45 p.m. (PST). The winner of that match will take first place in Pool B and will advance to take on the runner-up of Pool A tomorrow at 4 p.m. (PST). The loser will play the winner of Pool A tomorrow at 1 p.m. (PST).
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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).
