Photo: Jamestown Athletics

SIOUX CITY, IA. (NewsDakota.com) – The University of Jamestown controlled the match from the start on Thursday evening in Sioux City as the #1 Jimmies swept #8 Eastern Oregon (25-22, 25-20, 25-21) to move on to the National Semifinals.

Jamestown battled with the Mountaineers in set one before going on a 3-0 run late in set one to cap off a first set victory. Eastern Oregon responded by starting set two up 10-4 before the Jimmies rattled off 21 of the final 31 points to take set two as well. UJ would hop out early in game three and take the match, ending Eastern Oregon’s season.

For the second year in a row ⁦@UJVolleyball⁩ is on to the national semifinals #JimmiePride Embrace the Orange pic.twitter.com/hfEtvF7jv5

— Sean Johnson (@UJAthleticsAD) April 29, 2021

The Jimmies were led by Taylor Sabinash on Thursday who recorded 12 kills while hitting .647. West Fargo’s Kalli Hegerle was the only other attacker for the Jimmies in double digits with 10 kills. The spread out attack of Jamestown struck again in the tournament, with seven different Jimmies tallying a kill in the match.

The backline was strong for Jamestown throughout Thursday evening as five Jimmies finished with 10+ digs. Sydney Ellingson led the way with 16 digs, and Megan Gaffaney had 12.

As a team, UJ hit .292 for the match and held Eastern Oregon to a .191 attack percentage. The Jimmies finished with five blocks compared to three for the Mountaineers, and Jamestown won the hitting percentage battle in every set.

#1 Jamestown will play in the National Semifinal match tomorrow at 5 pm against Midland. Three GPAC teams will make up the final four teams in the tournament.

After the match @JimmieAthletics and @dordtdefenders ended up in the same hallway and a #GPAC chant broke out. #GPACNation#BetterTogether @dordtuniversity @JimmieKnight pic.twitter.com/ICRyBrxhD2

— Great Plains Athletic Conference (@GPACSports) April 29, 2021