MITCHELL, S.D. (JimmieAthletics.com) – The University of Jamestown volleyball team made a succesful Great Plains Athletic Conference debut Tuesday evening, handing Dakota Wesleyan University its first loss of the season, 25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 25-15.
Kori Buchanan (SR/Colfax, Wis.) and Britta Knudson (JR/Bismarck, N.D.) had 12 kills each to lead the Jimmie offense. The trio of Kennedy Conzemius (SR/Breckenridge, Minn.), Anna Holen(FR/LaMoure, N.D.), and Corina Ruud (SO/Breezy Point, Minn.) all finished with nine. Knudson’s .478 hitting percentage was a team high, as she made just one attack error in 23 attempts.
The first two sets were narrowly won by the Jimmies, but the Tigers (9-1 overall, 0-1 GPAC) came out strong in the third set, winning by seven.
“It was a really competitive match, and they made us work for it,” Buchanan said. “But we battled hard and came out with the win!”
Defensively, Julina Niemeier (SR/Jamestown, N.D.) had 27 digs while Meghan Orr (JR/Ypsilanti, N.D.) added 14. Knudson had eight total blocks, including five solo. Conzemius added a pair of solo blocks as part of her five total.
Miranda Lowman (JR/Mandan, N.D.) (26) and Jackie Meiklejohn(FR/Dickey, N.D.) (23) both eclipsed the 20+ assist mark, helping the Jimmies to a .231 hitting percentage.
Jamestown outhit DWU .231-.211 and had a 77-70 advantage in digs. UJ had four aces to the Tigers’ one, but committed twice as many serving errors (8-4).
Next up for the Jimmies (7-1 overall, 1-0 GPAC) is a non-conference match Friday at home against Dickinson State (N.D.)