Jimmies volleyball gets sweep over Dakota Wesleyan in GPAC semis

Nov. 10—JAMESTOWN — Just over a week after the University of Jamestown went down to Dakota Wesleyan University and won in four sets to clinch the GPAC regular season title, the teams met up in the GPAC semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Harold Newman Arena. The No. 2-ranked Jimmies had little trouble dispatching of the No. 6-ranked Tigers sweeping them (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) in the conference final four matchup.

The win means the Jimmies are hosting the GPAC Championship match for the fourth consecutive season.

"It's always fun playing in the Newman," Jimmies outside hitter Anna Holen said. "Playing in the GPAC Championship there never gets old. We're excited."

In the win, the Jimmies showed off the Tigers lack of scoring depth as Ady Dwight had 18 kills, and the next closest player was Mackenzie Miller with seven kills.

"Ady's always going to get her kills, but when you watch the Northwestern match and other matches, it's when number 18, Miller and number 11 (Mariah) Gloe, that's when their team does really well," Jimmies head coach Jon Hegerle said. "So, we were able to shut those two down which made a big difference."

The Jimmies (30-2) got the first kill of the match from Lexi Olson, part of a six-kill performance from her. The teams opened the first set trading points as the teams were tied at six. However, that started a run that saw the Jimmies take a 17-12 lead, on a kill from Darienne Johnson. Despite the Tigers cutting into the lead, the Jimmies finished the set on an 8-7 run, to win the set 25-19.

The Tigers (22-7) opened the second set on a 2-0 run before the Jimmies went on a 4-1 run to take a 4-3 lead. The Jimmies stretched the lead out to 12-7 later in the set on two attack errors and a kill from Aleah Zieske. The Jimmies appeared to be well on their way to a commanding set win at 22-15, however, the Tigers fought back to cut the deficit to 22-17. The Jimmies finished the set on a kill from Holen, part of a 13-kill performance for the senior.

The first six points of the third set was all Tigers as they sprinted out to a 5-1 lead. Zieske got a kill to make it 5-2 which kickstarted a 6-3 run to tie the set up at eight. The Jimmies then took their first lead of the third set at 9-8 on an error by the Tigers' Mariah Gloe. After the set was tied at 10, the Jimmies would go on a big run to take a 17-11 lead. The Tigers were fighting for their lives in the match cutting the deficit to 20-17. The Jimmies won the match when Kalli Hegerle rose up and tried to put a hole in the floor with a kill to make it 25-19 in the third set.

The Jimmies are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 12, when they face Concordia University with the time still to be determined.

DWU 0, UJ 3

DWU: 19 21 19 — 0

UJ: 25 25 25 — 3

Kills leaders:

DWU: Ady Dwight 18, Mackenzie Miller 7, Mariah Gloe 6

UJ: Anna Holen 13, Kalli Hegerle 11, Aleah Zieske 9

Assists leaders:

DWU: Madeline Else 32, Hanna Reiff 1

UJ: Paige Oswald 21, Hegerle 21, Ellie Holen 4

Aces leaders:

DWU: Reiff 1, Callie Slagter 1

UJ: A. Holen 1, Hegerle 1