ROCKLIN, Calif. — Opening Pacific West Conference play on their home floor at Warrior Arena on Friday afternoon, the Jessup University women's volleyball team faced a steep battle against Vanguard University. After dropping the first two frames, the Warriors mounted a ferocious third-set comeback to extend the match before ultimately falling in four sets (20–25, 17–25, 25–22, 20–25) in front of 149 fans.
In the early stages, Jessup struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Vanguard's net defense. In the opening set, the Warriors recorded just 8 kills alongside 8 errors on 34 total attacks, dropping the set 25–20. The second set proved even tougher for the home squad, as Vanguard hit a sharp .357 to claim a commanding 25–17 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Refusing to go down quietly, Jessup found its groove in the third set. The Warriors erupted offensively, slamming down 18 kills on 37 attempts with just 4 errors to post a match-high .378 hitting percentage. That surge fueled a 25–22 set win, cutting the match deficit to 2–1. However, Vanguard responded in the fourth set by capitalizing on Jessup's attack errors and securing the 25–20 set victory and the match.
Overall, Jessup was led by
Mia Rivera, who turned in a strong all-around performance with 8 kills, 11 digs, 2 service aces, and 2 total blocks.
Jenna Kraft added 9 kills and 7 digs, while McKinley King contributed 7 kills without committing a hitting error on 24 attempts (.167 PCT). Setter Kjersti Jacobson orchestrated the offense with 21 assists and tallied 8 digs, while
Khaycee Jamias-Cadenas added 8 assists and 6 digs.
"I was really proud of the resilience our group showed coming out of the intermission down 2-0," said Jessup head coach Taylor Jacky. "We executed at a high level in that third set and showed what our offense is capable of when we minimize errors. Vanguard is a tough, disciplined team, and while the outcome isn't what we wanted for our conference opener, the fight we showed in the second half of this match gives us a strong foundation to build on moving forward."
With the defeat, Jessup moves to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in PacWest play, while Vanguard improves to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in conference competition. Up next, the Warriors will remain at home at Warrior Arena as they continue their PacWest homestand against their next conference opponent, looking to bounce back and claim their first conference win of the season.
***
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).
