Eagles Takedown #3 Claremont Mudd Scripps

ST. LOUIS, Mo.-The Juniata women's volleyball team got back to their winning ways with a 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 27-25, 25-22) win over #3 Claremont Mudd Scripps, Saturday afternoon on the final day of the East to West Battle. 

The opening set saw the Eagles hold various narrow leads throughout the set. The Athenas pulled even for the last time at 21-21, which forced an Eagle timeout. A CMS attack error and kills from Marie Gonsar (New Castle, Pa. / Shenango H.S.) and Morgan Edwards (Lancaster, Pa. / Penn Manor) gave JC set point. CMS took the next point before a kill from Dejia Danhi (Ashburn, Va. / Stone Bridge) ended set one in favor of the Eagles, 25-22. 

The Athenas jumped out to an early 4-10 lead and the Eagles were playing catchup the rest of the way. With the score at 15-19, a CMS attack error paired with kills from Brianne Carmody (Midlothian, Va. / James River) and Victoria Taylor (Middletown, Del. / Delaware Military Academy) pulled JC within one. However, the Athenas managed to pull away to take set two, 21-25 to tie the match at 1-1. 

The third set was similar to the first as JC had a narrow lead, and CMS nipped at their heels throughout. The Athenas pulled even at 18-18, the Eagles built their lead back to four before CMS again rallied to pull even at 22-22. The teams traded points, with a service error and later an Edwards kill pushed the Eagles to set point. CMS pulled even for the last time at 25-25, as a kill from Carmody followed by a Gonsar ace ended set three, 27-25.  

In the fourth set, the Eagles managed to build an early lead behind some CMS errors to go up 15-8. The Eagles continued to cruise, with a block by Emma Davis (East Berlin, Pa / Dover Area HS) and Taylor giving JC match point, 24-17. The Athenas didn't go away as they managed to score five straight to get back within two, 24-22 before Taylor ended things with a kill. 

Davis was named to the East-West Battle All-Tournament team. 

The Eagles will play at Eastern, Friday at 7:00.