BOONEVILLE – No. 22 Jones College continued its winning ways Wednesday night, extending its winning streak to nine matches with a 3-1 victory over Northeast at Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
The Bobcats dominated the opening set before bouncing back from a narrow second-set loss to defeat the Tigers 25-7, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19.
Jones improved to 20-5 overall and 5-1 in MACCC play, reaching the 20-win mark for another season under third-year head coach John Dussouy. Northeast dropped to 11-15, 4-3 in the MACCC.
Myah Favre led a balanced Jones attack with a match-high 13 kills to go along with 10 digs and three block assists. Izzi Barnes continued her strong play with 12 kills on a .375 hitting percentage and eight block assists, while Jailly Vance added nine kills and hit .500 for the match.
The Bobcats wasted little time taking control in the opening set.
Jones delivered one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, putting down 15 kills on just 20 swings with only one attack error for a blistering .700 hitting percentage. The Bobcats overwhelmed Northeast 25-7, holding the Tigers to four kills and a negative .161 hitting percentage.
Northeast responded in the second set, taking advantage of nine Jones attack errors to even the match with a 25-23 victory. The Tigers hit .200 in the frame while limiting the Bobcats to a .140 clip.
With the match tied at a set apiece, Jones regained control in the third.
Despite hitting just .054 with 11 kills and nine errors, the Bobcats relied on their defense to grind out a 25-20 victory. Northeast struggled offensively, committing 10 attack errors and hitting negative .024.
Jones carried that momentum into the fourth set, producing 13 kills against four errors for a .231 hitting percentage to close out the match 25-19.
The Bobcats finished with a commanding 54-35 advantage in kills, outhit Northeast .223 to .014 and held a 10-5 edge in total blocks.
Olivia Guth anchored the Jones defense with a match-high 25 digs, while Selah Sandridge added nine kills and 10 digs. Vance committed just one attack error on 16 swings, and Amaya Wilson contributed five kills and three block assists.
Claire Wicker directed the Bobcat offense with 34 assists and eight digs, while Keira Hariel added 13 assists and a service ace.
Jones finished with 73 digs, 50 assists and five service aces.
Northeast was led by Addy Hicks with 14 kills and nine digs, while Eliza Whitenton added 10 kills. Kamari Parker finished with 22 assists, and Carine Delfin led the Tigers defensively with 14 digs.
Jones' Thursday match at Bishop State has been postponed due to Hurricane Isaias.
