ROCHESTER, Minn. – No. 6 Jamestown Community College was able to avoid the early scare and rallied to defeat No. 11 Fashion IT, 3-1, in the opening round of the 2019 NJCAA Volleyball Tournament.

The Jayhawks (29-5) fell in the first set to the Tigers, 25-23. JCC was able to come back and win three straight sets: 26-24, 25-11 and 25-15. Fashion IT was able to jump out to an early 5-3 lead. JCC was able to flip the script and go on a 10-0 run. During the run, Megan Gominiak was had four of her 10 kills during the stretch.

The Tigers were able to stop the run and make a comeback themselves. On two occasions in the first set, Fashion IT was able to string together some runs to put them back in the set. Fashion was able to get three straight points to take a 22-19 lead. JCC was able to battle back but Fashion put the set away with a kill and Service ace.

In the second set, JCC was able to settle own and got back to playing their brand of volleyball. JCC had a 10-4 lead to start the set, fueled by three service aces and two kills from Jenna Caskey. The Tigers were able to settle back in the set, going on an 8-3 run thanks to four errors committed by the Jayhawks.

Fashion fought all the way back to take a 20-19 lead. A kill by Karleigh Haines was able to draw the score even at 20 each. The Tigers pushed back out to a two-point advantage before the Jayhawks rattled off three straight points. Fashion quickly got two points back and were one point away. Jamestown called a timeout to stop the momentum. JCC was able close out the set on a 3-0 run.

JCC was able to put the match away in the third and fourth sets, showing why they are the No. 6 team in the tournament.

Caskey was able to pick up momentum as the match went on, finishing with 20 kills. Gominiak added 10 kills while Haines chipped in with seven kills. Cameryn Hawkins did her job in the backcourt for the Jayhawks, racking up 25 digs while Emma Wirsen added 21 digs. JCC had three other players finish with double-digit digs. Maddy Russo continued to be a constant for JCC, finishing with 38 assists.

The Jayhawks will face No. 3 Columbus State tonight at 7 p.m. with the winner keeping hopes alive for a national Championship. JCC faced Columbus State in the first match of the season, falling 3-0.