Jens Pick Up Wins Over Mary and Illinois-Springfield, Go 5-0 at Peggy Martin Challenge

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery

WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Jennies concluded the Peggy Martin Challenge with a pair of wins over the University of Mary and Illinois-Springfield, completing a perfect 5-0 tournament. The wins put the Jennies at 5-0 on the season for just the second time since 1998.

Game One: UCM 3, Mary 0 - 25-14, 25-9, 25-17

Led by Maddie Jones and Carly Sojka's 11 kills each, UCM volleyball swept the University of Mary 3-0 in their opening game Saturday morning.

Jones and Sojka's 11 kills were a game high, and Jones added six blocks to score a game high 14 points. Kasey Hohlen added eight kills while Kyle Hohlen chipped in with six and Lauren Dudgeon with five.

Kourtney Thompson recorded a season high 34 assists and landed three kills herself, while Shelby Winkelmann dig out a season-best 12 attacks.

UCM raced out to an early 4-1 lead causing Mary to call a timeout. The Jennies offense though pulled ahead using a 6-0 run, getting three kills in the process to stretch the lead to 15-5. The Jens used another run later in the set, this time taking advantage of three Mary attack errors. Another attack error from the Marauders capped the set, giving the Jennies a 1-0 edge.

Set number two was all UCM as they jumped to a 14-2 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 25-9 set win. Jones landed five kills in the set and the Jennies hit .536 (16 kills-1 error-28 attempts) as a team.

The Marauders gave the Jennies all that they could handle in the third set, but wasn't enough as the Jens put the match away with a 25-17 set win. Mary got to within three at 14-11, but back-to-back kills from Dudgeon and a third from Kasey Hohlen stretched the lead back to six for the Jens. Mary cut the lead to four, 20-16, but the Jennies scored five of the next six points, including three kills from Sojka to end the match.

UCM hit .400 as a team for the match (47-9-95) compared to the Marauders .133. The Jens also served up eight aces and landed six total blocks.

Game One: UCM 3, UIS 0 - 25-13, 25-18, 25-12

Jones again led the offensive effort, knocking down 12 kills and adding a block assist. Kasey Hohlen finished a kill shy of ten while Sojka notched eight more.

Defensively, Reilly dug out 12 attacks and the Jennies totaled five blocks, two coming from Mackenzie Harding. Thompson finished with her second straight 30+ assist match, passing out 30 helpers.

Kylie Hohlen had the hot hand early as she landed four kills in the opening frame, helping the Jennies to a 1-0 advantage. The Prairie Stars kept it close in the early going, trailing by a single point at 9-8. UCM went on a 10-1 run to separate themselves at 19-9, getting two of Hohlen's four kills in the process. The Jens won the opening set on a UIS service error.

The second set started out much the same with the two squads trading points. The Jennies again had a 9-8 before making a run, this time a 9-3 spurt to go ahead 18-12. UCM was put the match away on a Cheyanne Lyons kill. Jones landed six of her 12 kills in the second set.

Set number three was all UCM as they raced out to a quick 7-2 lead and never looked back. The Jennies extended their lead to 10 at 21-11 and scored four the final five points to clinch the match with a 25-12 set win.

The Jennies again were efficient on offense landing 36.8% of their attacks for kills (46-11-95). Jones had a team-best .647 attack percentage.

UCM hits the road for the first time this season as they'll travel to Denver, Colo. next weekend, Sept. 11-12, for the Colorado Premier Challenge. Their first two opponents are UC-San Diego and defending Division II Champions, Tampa. The following two will be determined after play on Friday.

Following the tournament, seniors Annie Reilly and Carly Sojka were named Co-MVP's of the tournament. Kasey Hohlen and Maddie Jones were also named to the All-Tournament Team.