FINAL STATS

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Senior Kara Slater and sophomore Jen Meyer led a dominant effort up front for the Jacksonville State volleyball team on Friday, when the Gamecocks eased to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 30-28) sweep of Long Island at the Virginia Tech Hokie Classic.

Slater, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., needed just 12 attempts to record her 10 kills in guiding the Gamecocks (3-2) to the win over the Blackbirds (0-4), a .750 attack percentage. Meyer, of Maineville, Ohio, recorded a match-high 11 kills on a .409 attack percentage.

In the balanced three-set match, JSU hit .246 while limiting Long Island to a .106 percentage. The Gamecocks recorded 54 digs and 45 kills, while senior Brooke Schumacher dished out 38 of the team's 43 assists.

“I thought we came out with a really aggressive mindset and put pressure on them both offensively and defensively,” JSU head coach Rick Nold said. “We were, again, pretty balanced with our offense and I think that is the key to our success.”

Sophomore Alyx Schulte flirted with a double-double for the Gamecocks, picking up nine kills and nine digs. Junior Lauren Harkins led all players with 23 digs. Junior Stephanie Koontz pitched in nine kills from the Gamecocks' front row.

Long Island was led by Hanna Gibeau's seven kills and Chelsey Stanton's 17 digs.

The Gamecocks will conclude the tournament on Saturday with matches against Coastal Carolina and host Virginia Tech. JSU will face the Chanticleers at 9 a.m. CT before wrapping up the day at 6 p.m. against the Hokies.