The No. 24 Jones College volleyball team defeated Meridian in straight sets Friday afternoon at A.B. Howard Gymnasium in Ellisville. The Bobcats won the matches 27-25, 25-22, and 25-11, moving their overall record to 11-4 and opening conference play with a 1-0 mark.
Jones coach Dussouy acknowledged the team’s slow start. “We’ve got to find a way to come out of the gate a lot stronger than we are,” he said. “Give credit to Meridian, they are a very good team and have had a very consistent season, especially with big swings. I think if we can consistently come out of the gate stronger, we will be in a much better position moving forward.”
The match began with a tightly contested first set that saw Jones prevail 27-25 after overcoming a six-point deficit. The Bobcats’ depth at the net was a key factor in the set’s outcome. In the second set, Meridian continued to challenge Jones, but the Bobcats held off a late rally to win 25-22. The third set saw Jones take control early and cruise to a 25-11 victory, completing the sweep.
Izzi Barnes led Jones with 14 kills on 21 swings for a .619 hitting percentage, adding a solo block and two block assists for 16 points. Selah Sandridge contributed 10 kills and a service ace, while Myah Favre finished with nine kills, five digs, and two blocks. Amaya Wilson added five kills and two blocks, and Claire Wicker dished out 24 assists and added five digs. Olivia Guth led the back row with 12 digs and a service ace.
The Bobcats will travel to face Northwest on Monday, Sept. 21, with first serve scheduled for 5 p.m.
