Sometimes inconsistency is better than consistency. For the John Carroll University volleyball team, that seems to be what is working this time for the Blue and Gold.

Dating back to last season, the Blue Streaks were consistent, but in a negative way. In 2017, JCU frequently lost. The Blue and Gold fell to eight-game, four-game, three-game and a pair of two-game losing streaks.

John Carroll’s 2018 campaign has been vastly different, posing a record of 15-11 as the season nears the end. However, on Oct. 17, the Blue Streaks came into a match against Baldwin Wallace riding a two-game winning streak, but fell to a 3-0 loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Despite losing this deciding match against BW, the Blue Streaks bounced back with an impressive 3-0 win over the Marietta Pioneers on Oct. 20.

Taking a look at the schedule for JCU, although they still have lost 11 games, the Blue Streaks’ longest losing streak was just four games. The Blue and Gold have bounced back from four additional losses this season with wins, smashing the narrative from that season that turned losing into losing streaks.

The Blue Streaks were led by five impressive freshmen in Brooke Hjerpe, Cassi Calamunci, Kailee Herbst, Rachel Bleile and Ally Bartolone. Hjerpe led the game in kills on Oct. 20 with 11 and digs with 16, Bleile led the team in aces with four, Bartolone led the team in assists with four and Herbst added seven kills and two blocks. Calamunci contributed seven kills, increasing her season total to a team-leading 278.

To close out their 2018 campaign at home, the Blue Streaks will face Wilmington College (7-19) on Oct. 27 at the DeCarlo Varsity Center. It’s a perfect opportunity for the Blue and Gold to sneak into the OAC Tournament.