ARCATA, Calif. — In a grueling Saturday split at Lumberjack Arena, the Jessup University women's volleyball team demonstrated remarkable poise and fortitude. After dropping a hard-fought 3-0 decision to nationally ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney in the morning, the Warriors stormed back from a 2-0 deficit in the afternoon cap-off to stun tournament host Cal Poly Humboldt in a thrilling five-set marathon with set scores of 19-25, 12-25, 25-20, 25-23, and 16-14.
The day began with a formidable test against powerhouse Nebraska-Kearney, who held an 8-1 record coming into the contest. The Lopers put on an offensive clinic in the opener, hitting an astounding .404 as a team with 42 kills against just two errors across three sets to capture victories of 25-8, 25-16, and 25-12. Despite the sweep,
August Stys paced the Warriors with 6 kills and 5 digs, while
Jenna Kraft also added 6 kills. Setter Kjersti Jacobson recorded 23 assists and 8 digs, and libero Lillian Smith anchored the backline with 4 digs, though Nebraska-Kearney's hyper-efficient net attack proved too strong to overcome.
Refusing to let the morning result dampen their spirit, Jessup returned to the court in the afternoon to take on host Cal Poly Humboldt. The Lumberjacks appeared to be cruising toward a sweep after capturing the first two sets 25-19 and 25-12 behind strong attacking performances from Graysen Trupp and Avary Spoja. With their backs against the wall, head coach Taylor Jacky's squad turned the tide completely in the third set, elevating their execution with 12 kills to secure a 25-20 win. Jessup carried that momentum into the fourth frame, hitting a match-high .279 to edge out Humboldt 25-23 and force a winner-take-all fifth set, where the Warriors fought through nine tie scores to complete a dramatic 16-14 reverse sweep.
Several key players delivered standout statistical performances during Jessup's epic victory over Cal Poly Humboldt.
Jayden Jones led the offensive charge with a double-double consisting of 11 kills, 12 digs, and a block, while
Jenna Kraft matched her with 11 kills along with 8 digs and a service ace.
August Stys delivered an extraordinarily efficient performance on the wing with 9 kills on 25 attempts with only one error (.320 hitting percentage), 10 digs, and 3 blocks. Setter Kjersti Jacobson orchestrated the attack with 29 assists, 13 digs, and 2 service aces, while libero Lillian Smith anchored the defense with a team-high 13 digs. In the middle,
Megan Conway dominated at the net with 5 kills and 4 blocks, while
Mia Rivera added 6 kills hitting .313 alongside 6 digs and 2 blocks.
"I could not be prouder of the fight and resilience our program displayed today," said Head Coach Taylor Jacky. "Coming off a tough match against a high-caliber Nebraska-Kearney team and then going down two sets to a tough Humboldt squad on their home floor, it would have been easy to surrender. But our women showed incredible character, grit, and unity. This win proves what we are capable of when we trust each other and execute our game plan."
With non-conference tournament action officially in the books, Jessup now shifts its focus toward PacWest Conference competition. The Warriors return home to Warrior Arena in Rocklin next week to prepare for an upcoming matchup against Dominican University (CA). Jessup will look to carry the momentum, defensive resilience, and clutch late-game execution from Saturday's victory straight into their conference opener.
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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).
