The JMU volleyball team's improbable run came to an end Saturday night in a five set thriller to Northeastern University, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 15-8 at the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in Newark, Del.
The Dukes ended one of the best seasons in their program's history at 22-8, and Northeastern season continues today in the CAA Finals against top seed, the University of Delaware.
The Dukes went down early in the first set, but were able to battle back and tie the score at 9-9. The Huskies went up 17-13 and looked in control of the set, but JMU won 11 of the next 13 points to get set point. A kill by senior Jessica Zeroual gave the Dukes an early 1-0 advantage in a tight match.
The second set saw Northeastern come out strong, taking a 5-2 advantage but like the first set, JMU clawed its way back. The Dukes tied the score at 17-17 but the Huskies went on an 8-4 run to close the set, getting four straight points on Nichole Kurz's serve.
The Dukes started to gain control of the match in the third set getting up to a 14-9 lead. Like the first two sets, the opposing team got back in it, this time with a 19-19 tie. Senior Lauren Fanelli's serve sparked a 6-0 run to close out the set and give JMU a 2-1 lead to lead the match.
JMU started out slow again in the fourth set, going down 16-10, but a 7-1 run tied the set up at 17-17. The Dukes ran out of gas in the fourth, losing 25-19, and giving the Huskies momentum it ultimately needed.
The Huskies silenced the Dukes opening the decisive fifth set up with an 8-2 lead. JMU never got any closer, losing the set 15-8 and capping off a great 2010 season.
Sophomore Danielle Erb led the Dukes with team-high 25 kills and senior Lindsay Callahan, playing her final game as a Duke, had 15 kills to go along with 16 digs.
-MO
-MO
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