DEFENDING CAA CHAMPS TOWSON TAME DUKES IN VOLLEYBALL

Saturday, October 8

Harrisonburg, Va.

James Madison University

Towson

10/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 8, 2005 -- Senior outside April Hoffman (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) netted a match-high 20 kills as Towson University took down the Dukes of James Madison University in Colonial Athletic Association volleyball action on Saturday night.

In game one of the four-game match, the lead changed hands five times before the Tigers broke a 13-13 tie and took control. The Tigers built as much as a nine-point lead in the game (27-19) and held on to win, 30-24. Hoffman and senior middle Lindsey Hardin (Moorpark, Calif/Moorpark) each tallied four kills for Towson, while JMU junior middle Ashley Copenhaver (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville) netted four kills for the Dukes. In game two, the Dukes hit at a .417 mark (13-3-24), but the Tigers notched a lofty .533 (20-4-30) hitting percentage and served four aces to take the game 30-19.

Game three saw the Dukes build a 24-19 lead with sophomore middle Allyson Halls (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy) netting six kills. The Tigers stayed in the game and tied the stanza at 29 on an attack error. The Dukes kept taking the lead but each time Towson answered back until an assisted block by Halls and Emilee Hussack (Chambersburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley Christian) gave the Dukes a 33-31 win.

In the fourth and final game of the match, the Dukes notched 21 kills, six more than the Tigers, led by Hussack's five kills. The Dukes, however, tallied seven service errors, which proved to be the deciding factor as the Tigers took the final game 30-26. Halls and junior right side Bayli Stillwell (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs) both knocked in four kills a piece in the final game.

Towson's defense saw three players reach double digits in digs with sophomore setter Kimberly Snider (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron) leading all players with 17 on the night. Snider also led all players in assisting 51 attacks for the Tigers. Senior setter Krysta Cannon (Cedar Park, Texas/Westwood) had a team-high 45 attack assists for the Dukes, and sophomore middle Lesley Schmidt (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin) added seven kills for the Dukes.

The Dukes have now dropped four straight decisions, all to CAA foes, and have a 10-7 overall record. They dropped below the .500 mark in the CAA standings for the first time this year and sit at 4-5. The Tigers have now won eight of their last 10 matches and boast a 19-3 mark overall, 7-1 in the CAA.

The Dukes stay at home next weekend (Oct. 14-15) for two matches slated for 7 p.m. starts. On Friday Oct. 14, the Dukes play host to the Pride of Hofstra. On Saturday (Oct. 15), CAA newcomer Northeastern University will travel to Harrisonburg to take on the JMU volleyball Dukes. The Dukes dropped their first decision to Hofstra in Hempstead, N.Y. (Sept. 11) by a score of 3-2 and the Dukes took their first match against Northeastern (Sept. 9), winning 3-1.