HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's volleyball team completed an undefeated regular season with a straight-set victory over Saint John Fisher (25-12, 25-20, 25-16) to conclude the Wid Guisler Invitational.
2023 marks the fourth time in program history that Juniata has finished a regular season without a defeat, previously accomplishing the feat in 2003, 1996, and 1977.
Juniata hit a match-high .393 with just two attack errors in set one, while they kept the Cardinals to a .067 hitting percentage. St. John earned the first two points before the Eagles strung together six straight, including two Mia Schubert aces, a solo block from Mackenzie Coley, and a duo block from Olivia Foley and Coley. Up 6-2, Juniata maintained the gap with a kill and two aces to get to 11-5. A 6-2 run from Juniata gave them a 17-7 cushion that they continued to consistently build on up to a Courtney Williams kill on set point.
Saint John Fisher never found the lead in the second set, but they did find themselves within a point at 10-9. Juniata then strung together six of the next seven points in a run that included four more Coley kills for a 16-10 lead. The teams traded points to the finish line, with Juniata getting to set point in set two at 25-20 with a Foley kill.
After falling behind 3-2, Juniata then went on an 11-2 stretch for a 13-5 lead. The run featured two Coley aces and a kill, two Emily Sullivan kills, and three consecutive attack errors from Saint John Fisher. The Cardinals earned the next four points to get back to 13-9, and the teams went back and forth a few times, leading up to a 7-1 Eagles run with three Audrey Muth kills for a 23-12 scoreline. Two Eagles and attack errors and a Saint John Fisher kill gave them late life before a Cardinals service error and Sullivan kill earned the 27th match victory of 2023 for Juniata.
Coley hit .542 with 14 kills and a team-high five aces. Defensively, she had three block assists and a solo block. Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez had a team-high 18 digs with an ace and four assists. Foley ended the match with 32 assists, five digs, and three kills.
The Eagles begin playoff competition hosting the semi-finals round of the Landmark Conference playoffs on Thursday night. They'll play the winner of #4 Catholic vs. #5 Susquehanna.
