High Point, N.C. – James Madison downed Furman, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon in the Paladins' first game of the 2019 High Point Invitational. The Paladins now move on to face Kennesaw State at 4:30 p.m.
 
Lydia Morris led Furman with eight kills on the day, while Nicole Mack added six and Courtney Hoffman added five. Freshman Natalie Dunn turned in 12 digs, while Andrea Aceveda added 10 and Katie Murphy turned in a double-double with 10 kills and 21 assists.
 
Down 13-5 in the first set, Furman used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to three at 13-10. The teams traded points until James Madison rattled off four in a row to grab set point at 24-17. A kill by Lydia Morris sparked a 4-0 Furman run that cut the lead to 24-21, but the Dukes used a block by Zarah White to take the set, 25-21, for a 1-0 match lead.
 
After James Madison took set two, 25-16, set three was tightly contested from the opening serve, as the Dukes grabbed a quick two-point advantage at 6-4. The Paladins used a 5-1 run to take its first lead at 9-8, before James Madison used four-straight to push the lead back to three at 12-9. Furman cut the lead to two at 18-16, then the teams traded points until the Paladins cut the lead to one at 20-19 on a kill by Katie Murphy. The two teams again traded points until James Madison held off a Furman rally, taking the third set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
 
The Dukes were led by Briley Brind'Amour with eight kills, while Sarah Martin put down seven and Savannah Marshall added 20 digs.


Behind back-to-back set wins in sets four and five, Kennesaw State downed Furman, 3-2, on Saturday evening in the Paladins' second game of the High Point Invitational. The loss drops the Paladins to 0-5 on the year.
 
Nicole Mack led Furman with a season-high 21 kills, while Courtney Hoffman added 12. Neci Harris turned in five blocks on the day, while Andrea Aceveda tallied 25 digs.
 
Kennesaw State used an 11-3 run in the first to open a 14-6 lead over the Paladins, but Furman responded with an 11-3 run of its own to tie the set at 17. The two teams traded points until the Owls outscored the Paladins 3-1 to take the set, 25-23. Furman and Kennesaw State traded points to start the second set until Furman used a 4-0 run to take a 14-12 lead. Later in the set, a block by Lydia Morris and Neci Harris sparked a 3-0 Furman run to push the Paladins' lead to five at 21-16. Furman grabbed set point at 24-19, the Owls cut the lead to three at 24-21, then Furman used a kill to take the set, 25-21, to tie the match at one.
 
Set three was evenly matched, as the two traded runs throughout. Furman used a 4-0 run to cut the Kennesaw State lead to one late in the set at 23-22, before the Owls grabbed their first set point at 24-22. Furman responded with three-straight points to take a 25-24 lead. The teams then traded rallies until Furman closed out the set with a kill by Mack to take a 31-29 set victory and 2-1 match lead.
 
The Owls rallied in sets four and five, earning 25-21 and 15-9 victories, respectively, to take the match, 3-2.
 
Furman is back in action on Sunday, taking on High Point at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+.