CMS Volleyball Takes Down Chapman in Battle for First in SCIAC

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Jackie Jones had 13 kills in 24 attempts and Dede Carranza had a big day defensively with 25 digs as the second-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps volleyball team defeated Chapman 3-0 on Friday night in a battle for first place in the SCIAC at Roberts Pavilion.

Set scores were 25-20, 25-16, 25-20 as CMS improves to 14-0 overall and 7-0 in the SCIAC, with all seven league wins so far coming via 3-0 sweeps. Chapman, which would have pulled into first place with a win, slips to 8-8 overall and 6-2 in league play with the loss. 

Jenna Holmes added 12 kills for CMS, which closed out the match on a 5-0 run after Chapman put up a strong fight in the third set, leading 16-15 at one point and pulling even at 20-20. However, Summer Ellis started the 5-0 run with a kill, and Jackie Jones had her 13th to make it 24-20 and set up a match point. A Chapman attack landed wide of the sideline, as CMS was able to close out the 25-20 win and the 3-0 sweep. 

CMS came roaring out of the gate in the first set, taking a 10-2 lead after Holmes had three kills during a 5-0 run. Chapman, though, fought its way back in it, and pulled to within two points on three occasions, the last at 19-17. Holmes had a kill and Jones accounted for four straight CMS points in a 4-2 run to make the score 24-19. Chapman fought off the first set point, but Melanie Williams finished it off with a kill for a 25-20 CMS lead. 

The second set saw CMS break it open with a 5-0 run that turned a 7-6 lead into a 12-6 advantage, with Ellis accounting for two kills and a block during the run. Chapman was still within 20-15 late in the set, but CMS closed on a 5-1 run, capped by a kill and a block from Kelsey Polhemus (who shared the block with Ellis). 

CMS hit .330 on the day, as it continues to boast the most efficient offense in the country (.333 as a team, well ahead of second-place Calvin at .308), as Georgia McGovern (22 assists) and Spencer Hagenbuch (19 assists) continued their success in sharing the setting duties. Defensively, Carranza finished with a career-high 25 digs, with many of the spectacular variety, including a couple that she kept alive with one arm. 

CMS will return to action tomorrow at Roberts Pavilion for a 4 p.m. matchup with Pomona-Pitzer. The match will officially be Pomona-Pitzer's home game, but it will be held at Roberts Pavilion due to the Pomona-Pitzer athletic facility being under construction.