Blue Jays keep hopes alive for bye

WESTMINSTER, Md. – Sarah Feicht led three players in double-digit kills with 13 to help Johns Hopkins to a 3-0 win over McDaniel in Centennial Conference (CC) volleyball action on Wednesday.

The Blue Jays (17-11, 7-2 CC) took the first two sets by identical 25-18 scores before edging the Green Terror (3-19, 2-7 CC) in the final set, 25-23.

Carolyn Mickelson and Melissa Cole added 10 kills apiece for Johns Hopkins. Alica Diehl steadied the defense with 22 digs while Cole had 21.

Annie McShea (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) led McDaniel with team highs of 11 kills and 14 digs.

Sarah Byron (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill), Kristen Nuckles (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) and Katie Ferguson (Dover, Pa./Northern York) also reached double figures in digs. Bryon had 13 while Nuckles and Ferguson notched 12 and 11, respectively.

In the opening set, back-to-back Mickelson kills keyed a 5-0 burst that turned a 9-6 deficit into an 11-9 advantage. Brittany Zimmer capped the set with back-to-back kills.

In the second set, Amelia Thomas served six straight points to help the visitors open up a 9-3 advantage.

The final set featured six ties and two lead changes. Trailing 22-20, a Feict kill pulled Johns Hopkins within one before an attack error evened the set at 22-all.

A Taryn Segal ace followed by a Cole kill gave the Blue Jays a 24-22 edge. McShea closed the deficit to one with a kill but a Green Terror attack error ended the match.

McDaniel concludes the season in a tri-match at Haverford with Cabrini on Saturday. Action begins at 1 p.m.

Johns Hopkins def. McDaniel, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23)
McDaniel Leaders:
Kills: Annie McShea 11, Katie Ferguson 6; Assists: Jackie Hawkins 9, Kristen Nuckles 7; Aces: Hawkins 2, Nuckles 2; Digs: McShea 14, Sarah Byron 13, Nuckles 12, Ferguson 11; Total Blocks: Melissa Weldon 2.

-30-