WILMINGTON, N.C. – Despite 12 kills each from senior
Jessica Lewis and sophomore
Jocelyn Kuilan, the No. 5 Towson University volleyball team fell to No. 1 James Madison University, 3-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
Redshirt sophomore
Anna Holehouse was named to the CAA All-Tournament Team after totaling 28 digs with six assists in the two matches.
THE BASICS
James Madison 3, Towson 0 (19-25, 25-27, 22-25)
Hanover Hall, Wilmington, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first set was tied at 10-10 before Towson used a 6-3 run to take a 16-13 advantage. Lewis had a pair of kills and a service ace during that stretch. James Madison (20-10) called timeout and after the break scored 12 of the final 15 points in the set. The Dukes earned the 25-19 set win as Bryn Recker had a pair of kills and a block.
- With the second set tied at 6-6, Towson (24-9) used a 7-3 run to take a 13-9 edge. A kill from Kuilan pushed the Tiger advantage to 15-12. A service ace from Holehouse gave Towson an 18-14 advantage and James Madison called its second timeout. The Dukes scored six of the next 10 points after the break and cut the Tiger lead to two, 22-20. Janey Goodman had a pair of kills for James Madison. A block from redshirt senior Candace Steadman and freshman Annie Ertz gave Towson a 24-22 lead. Back-to-back errors by the Tigers allowed the Dukes to tie the set at 24-24. The two teams traded points before back-to-back attack errors by the Tigers gave James Madison a 27-25 set win.
- The two teams battled early in the third set before a Kelly Vahos kill gave the Dukes an 11-9 lead. Towson scored four of the next six points and tied the set at 13-13. Lewis and Kuilan each had a kill during that stretch. A kill from junior Payton Windell knotted the set at 14-14. A service error by the Tigers on the next play started a 5-3 run that gave the Dukes a 19-17 lead. Goodman had a pair of kills. The two squads traded points as a kill from senior Lindsay Flaherty pulled the Tigers to within one, 23-22. However the Dukes got blocks on the next two plays to claim a 25-23 set win and victory in the match.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Tigers finished the year with a 24-9 mark, it marked the second straight season they reached the CAA semifinals and the third straight year that they won at least 20 matches.
- With her appearance in the second set, Flaherty broke the school record for career sets played. Her 481 sets played broke Lisa Schaefer's mark of 479.
- James Madison hit .222 while the Tigers hit .131. Towson had 39 kills to the Dukes' 36. Each team had three service aces while the Tigers were hampered by 13 service errors. The Dukes outblocked the Tigers 14-3.
- Kuilan had 12 kills and six digs while hitting .500. Lewis posted her 17th double-double of the year with 12 kills and 11 digs.
- Freshman Marrisa Wonders dished out 23 assists while Holehouse had 12 digs.
- Goodman led James Madison with 10 kills and five blocks.
The Tigers lose Flaherty, Steadman and Lewis to graduation but return several key contributors next season.
