HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Juniata women's volleyball wrote their name into the history books twice more at their home opener on Friday night.
First, the team raised the banner prior to the match, cementing their position in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center as national champions of the 2023-2024 season. It will hang alongside their banner from the 2022-23 season, which marks the same feat.
Second, hosting and defeating Ohio Northern 3-0 in the ASICS Invitational meant that Juniata had tied the Women's Volleyball Division III consecutive wins streak record at 66, set by Johns Hopkins in 2021. The streak began on September 17th 2022, and during the run, the Eagles have dropped 14 sets across the 66 matches. It is the third longest streak across all of women's collegiate volleyball as Concordia St Paul (Division II) is second all-time at 75 (2008-2010), and Penn State is number one at 109 (2007-2010).
It was a tight match in set one, which the Eagles took 25-21. Down 20-21, the Eagles won five key points in a row to win the set, the final point coming from a Courtney Williams kill and an Olivia Foley assist.
It was even tighter at the beginning of set two when the Polar Bears jumped out to a 1-4 lead. Juniata held their first lead of the set at 11-10 and were able to get past the Polar Bears, winning the set 25-20.
The final set would be the easiest of the three for the Eagles. A 3-0 start gave the Eagles some momentum to reach a 10-5 lead. The Eagles kept control of the game and saw it out, winning 25-13 in set three.
Mackenzie Coley led with kills with 13 on a remarkable .722 kill percentage, Foley led in assists with 39, and Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez contributed a game-high eight digs.
Juniata will attempt to go to 5-0 and break the Division III win streak record in their second and final match of the ASICS Invitational on their home court. They will host Swarthmore College at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, where the 20th anniversary of the 2004 National Championship will also be recognized.
