FRESNO, Calif. — The Jessup University women's volleyball team opened its 2026 campaign on Thursday evening at the Sunbird Classic, taking on tournament host Fresno Pacific University at the Special Events Center. Marking the head coaching debut for Taylor Jacky, the Warriors showcased relentless fight but dropped a 3–0 sweep (14-25, 20-25, 14-25).
Jenna Kraft led the Warriors' attack with eight kills and six digs, while
Jadyn Hoffman contributed five kills and six digs. Kjersti Jacobson anchored the distribution with 20 assists alongside nine digs, and Lillian Smith stabilized the backline with eight digs. Highlighting the middle,
August Stys recorded three kills on an efficient .182 hitting percentage with a block assist.
Despite strong defensive efforts that produced 37 team digs, Jessup struggled to establish an offensive rhythm, hitting .000 overall with 24 kills against 24 attack errors. Fresno Pacific capitalized behind a .299 team hitting percentage and 41 total kills, led by Morgan Castaneda and Madelyn Feramisco with 10 kills apiece.
Reflecting on the season opener, head coach Taylor Jacky remained focused on the team's growth through high-level tests.
"It's great for us to face such great competition early in the season," Jacky said. "We would much rather be put in tough situations and rise to challenges."
Jessup (0-1) will look to bounce back as Sunbird Classic action continues on Friday, August 28, taking on UC Merced at 12:00 p.m. in Fresno.
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About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a 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).
