HUNTINGDON, PA- Juniata's women's volleyball team hosted the Wid-Guisler Tri-Match on Saturday and defeated both Franklin & Marshall College and Muskingum University in 3-0 sweeps.
First, Juniata hosted Franklin & Marshall at 12:00 p.m.
The Eagles jumped out to an 11-3 start in set one where they won three points in a row on three separate occassions. The Diplomats fought back to 12-7, but the Eagles would go on to win three points in a row on three more separate occassions to eventually win the set on a Mackenzie Coley kill 25-16.
The teams were much more evenly-matched at the beginning of set two. The Eagles and the Diplomats went point for point until they reached 5-5. At 5-6, the Diplomats had a short-lived lead which the Eagles would take back on a five-point run at 8-8 to lead 13-8. From there, the difference was too large for Franklin & Marshall to make up and the Eagles would win the set 25-18.
Set three unfolded very similarly to set two as the score was tied again at 8-8. This time the Diplomats took an 11-12 lead before the Eagles went on their five-point run. The Eagles led 16-12 at the end of it, and the Diplomats would only come within two points at 18-16 before the Eagles ran away with the match. Set three was won 25-18 by the Eagles to secure the 3-0 match victory.
Coley led with eight kills, while Podolan and Kennedy Christy each contributed six. Olivia Foley accumulated 22 assists and Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez added 23 digs.
Second, the Eagles hosted and defeated Muskingum University at 5:00 p.m. in another 3-0 sweep.
The Eagles dominated play in an eight-point run, reaching an 11-1 lead in the opening set. The Fighting Muskies came within ten points at 16-6 but never threatened to take the lead. The Eagles would take set one 25-9.
On an already dominant performance, it was tough for the Eagles to improve their margin of victory, but they did. After Muskingum took the first point of the set, the Eagles took set two 25-6 and went on a remarkable ten-point run in the midst of it.
Set three was much more closely faught. The Ealges took an 8-3 lead to start the set, but the Fighting Muskies fought hard from behind. At 14-8, they won eight out of the next ten points to tie the game at 16-16. Each team then took turns winning four points in a row to eventually tie the game at 21-21. Juniata was able to gain the edge in the last few points to win the set 25-22.
Ava Gummer led the second match with eight kills, Abbey Telesz totaled 13 assists, and Sophia Repholz led with seven digs.
The Eagles winning streak stands at 72 games currently, three away from tying Concordia St Paul's (Division II) record of 75, the second-longest streak in collegiate volleyball history.
The Eagles will look to carry their momentum on Thursday when they visit Carneige Mellon Tartans at 6:00 p.m.
