FORT MYERS, Fla. - A challenging road swing continued for the Jacksonville volleyball team on Saturday as the Dolphins fell to host Florida Gulf Coast 3-1 (15-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-23).

"It was an extremely tough road weekend and we have another tough one next weekend" said Head Coach Julie Darty, whose team is in the midst of a four game road swing. "We know it's not going to get any easier. There is a lot we have to work on this week and we are hoping to bounce back and find a good rhythm again."

Junior Sammie Strausbaugh (Dover, Pa.) led the Dolphins with 18 kills and 16 digs on Saturday, her 11th double-double of the season. Junior Emily Laskelle (Napa, Calif.) added 15 kills. Defensively freshman Nicole Pritchard (Jacksonville, Fla.) posted 17  digs and sophomore Kelly Koop (McKinney, Texas) had 14.  

"I am proud of the scrappiness and fight we showed at times," Darty said. "We are getting better at certain parts of our game but still have some areas that need much improvement. We have some youth out there that is learning and is being asked to fill big roles, I am extremely proud of this team and the way they stay together on the court we just need to find ways to finish."

Jacksonville looked to find its rhythm in the opening set taking it by a 25-15 score after scoring 15 of the final 21 points. Laskelle led the Dolphins with seven kills in the set. JU then led 9-3 in the second set before Florida Gulf Coast awoke to run off a 22-7 stretch and even the match at 1-1.

The momentum swung with the third set which features eight ties and one lead change. Jacksonville faced a 24-22 deficit before tieing the game at 24-24. The Eagles would score the next two points after a time out however to take the set.

Florida Gulf Coast held a 19-11 lead in the fourth set before the Dolphins staged a comeback. Jacksonville used an 8-1 spurt to close within a single point, but could get no closer as the Eagles took the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.

Next weekend the Dolphins travel to preseason A-Sun favorite Lipscomb for a rematch of the 2013 A-Sun Championship on Friday and to Northern Kentucky on Saturday.