#9 Juniata Takes Downs Mount Union 3-0

ALLIANCE, Ohio- The Juniata women's volleyball team embarked on its final regular season road trip of the season on Friday as the Eagles played host Mount Union. JC took out the Purple Raiders in three sets (25-13, 26-24, 25-20).

Juniata spread its offensive attack with Mar-Jana Phillips (Carson, Calif./Rolling Hills Prep) leading the way with 12 kills. Nakita Gearhart (Waynesboro, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) added 11 kills with Megan Moroney (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) tacking on 10. Suzanne Gloekler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) chipped in eight kills. Kelly Reynolds (Upper Saint Clair, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) put up 39 assists. Defensively, Katie Byrne (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) led with 18 digs. Reynolds contributed 10 digs. Glen Brumm (Oro Valley, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) and Shaina Robinett (Westchester, Pa./Pa Leadership Charter School) chipped in eight digs each.

JC trailed 5-4 in the first set but broke off a 6-0 run to go up 10-5. The Purple Raiders got to 11-7 but the Eagles ripped off an eight-point run to take a 19-7 lead and cruised the rest of the way to take the set.

Mount Union led in the second set 6-5 but Juniata went on a 10-4 run to go ahead 15-10. The Purple Raiders tied the set at 17-17 and took a 23-22 lead in the hopes of tying the match up. The Eagles put those hopes to rest as they closed out the frame with a 4-0 run that ended with a kill from Phillips.

Juniata led for the majority of the third set. The Eagles were ahead 8-6 and pulled further ahead with a 9-4 run. The Purple Raiders narrowed the deficit to just two at 17-15. The Eagles were able to outlast Mount Union with an 8-5 run down the stretch to take the set and the match.

The Eagles play Otterbein at Mount Union tomorrow afternoon. Start time for the match will be at 2:00 p.m.