HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata women's volleyball team swept aside Franklin and Marshall, 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-20) to close the 28^th annual Asics Invitational, Saturday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium. 

The first set opened with the Eagles holding a narrow 5-4 lead. A 10-1 run appeared to put the Eagles in the driver's seat, but the Diplomats didn't go away, responding with a 7-3 rally to get back within two at 15-13. The Eagles were having none of that, as they rattled enough another nine straight points to get to set point 24-13. F & M committed an attack error; Brianne Carmody (Midlothian, Va. / James River) and Mackenzie Coley (Norco, Calif. / Norco HS) combined for two straight blocks, Carmody followed with a kill. Following a timeout from the visitors, they committed another attack error, Carmody put down another kill, and Kiona Sky Rousset-Hernandez (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico / Colegio Bautista de Carolina HS) served up three consecutive aces to cap the run. The Diplomats took the next two points before an error ended the set in favor of the Eagles, 25-15.  

Juniata trailed early in the second set, 4-6, before they went on a commanding 20-3 run that Franklin and Marshall tried to stop with timeouts at various points, but the Eagles were unstoppable, eventually winning on a Lily Podolan (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington Kilbourne) kill, 25-12. 

The third set was tight most of the way, with the Eagles holding a three-point lead at 17-14 before an Aly Reardon (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West HS) kill and a Diplomat attack error put JC back up five.  The visitors got within four three more times, but a Carmody kill wound up ending the match for the Eagles, 25-20. 

Carmody with the kill!! #WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/I4eyNIR59C

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) September 12, 2021

Rousset-Hernandez was named tournament MVP, while Olivia Foley (Coldwater, Mich / Coldwater HS) and Coley joined her on the Asics All-Tournament Team. 

Asics All-Tournament Team

Juniata will compete in the Nazareth Invitational beginning next Friday at 5:00 against Nazareth.