MATCH INFORMATION
MATCH #16: Jacksonville vs. Bethune-Cookman
DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 7:30 pm
SITE: UNF Arena – Jacksonville, Fla.
2017 RECORDS: Jacksonville (8-7, 3-0 ASUN); Bethune-Cookman (4-7, 2-0 MEAC) 
LIVE STATS: HERE
IN-GAME UPDATES: @JUVolleyball

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Following a weekend sweep in league play, Jacksonville University volleyball seeks its third-straight victory when it welcomes Bethune-Cookman to UNF Arena Tuesday, Oct. 3 for a 7:30 pm contest.

Last Time Out – ASUN Road Weekend at USC Upstate, NJIT

The Dolphins returned to Duval victorious after sweeping their weekend matches at USC Upstate and NJIT.

Jacksonville rushed out to an impressive start, taking the first two sets in decisive fashion, 25-16, 25-19, before the Spartans returned the pressure in sets three and four with 25-21 and 25-16 wins, respectively. The final set tested both teams as it went into extra points, with Jacksonville coming out on top, 17-15, for the 3-2 match win. Jacksonville hit .273 in the first set and .286 in the final set while both Mallory Mattingly (16 kills, 14 digs) and Natalie Wehner (12 kills, 21 digs) posted double-doubles in the match. Jessica Armstrong and Olga Nushtayeva were forces at the net as each tallied seven blocks each.

Two days later, the Dolphins defeated NJIT in straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-17. Jacksonville hit .200 or above in sets two (.200) and three (.387) for a .247 match hitting percentage, while the Highlanders were held to just .152. Amarrah Cooks and Armstrong tallied six kills each, while Cooks posted a game-high six blocks, followed by Armstrong's five blocks to lead the Dolphins. Mattingly added 11 kills and a career-high six service aces, while Alleah Stamatis added 31 assists to help the Dolphins offensively. Mackenzie Swan (18) and Wehner (10) both posted double-digit digs.

Mattingly was named ASUN Player of the Week Monday, following her career weekend against the Spartans and Highlanders. It is her second Player of the Week honor, having previously earned the accolades last season (Oct. 31, 2016).

Where They Rank …

The Dolphins rank in the top five in the ASUN in several statistical categories including:

• Solo blocks (45) – first
• Digs per set (15.69) – second (94th nationally)
• Total blocks (115.0) – third
• Blocks per set (1.95) – third
• Opponent hitting percentage (0.192) – third
• Team attacks per set (36.47) – third (74th nationally)
• Kills per set (12.47) – fourth
• Team attacks (2,152) – fourth
• Hitting percentage (.188) – fourth
• Team digs (926) – fourth
• Team kills (736) – fifth
• Team assists (686) – fifth
• Assists per set (11.63) – fifth
• Service aces per set (1.10) – fifth

Individually, several Dolphins rank in the top 10 in the ASUN:

• Mallory Mattingly leads the ASUN with 658 total attacks (59th in the nation), and is second in the league with 11.15 attacks per set (48th in the nation).
• Additionally, Mattingly ranks third with 21 service aces, and fourth in the league in kills (201), kills per set (3.41), and service aces per set (0.36).
• Mackenzie Swan is currently third in the ASUN with 4.20 digs per set (132nd in the nation), and ranks fourth with 248 digs.
• Two Dolphins rank in the top 10 in the ASUN in hitting percentage – Amarrah Cooks ranks fifth  with a .307 hitting percentage, and Olga Nushtayeva is eighth with a .258 hitting percentage.
• Alleah Stamatis ranks second in the league with 461 assists, and is fifth with 7.81 assists per set.
• Hannah Marchand is tied for sixth in the ASUN with 11 solo blocks, while teammate Olga Nushtayeva ranks ninth with nine.
• Nustayeva is also 10th in the league with 32 block assists.
• Cooks and Nushtayeva are tied for ninth in the league with 41 total blocks apiece.
• Marchand also ranks eighth in the ASUN with 0.88 blocks per set.

ASUN Weekly Honors

Sophomore outside hitter Mallory Mattingly earned her second career ASUN Conference Player of the Week honor after posting career numbers over the weekend. The Sanford, Fla. native totaled 10 service aces on the weekend – four at USC Upstate and a career-best six at NJIT – to move into third in the league with 21 aces. Mattingly also posted her seventh double-double of the season with 16 kills and 14 digs against the Spartans. The Dolphins swept the weekend with a 3-2 victory over the Spartans and a 3-0 win against the Highlanders.

Hannah Marchand continued to impress in the league after earning her second ASUN Freshman of the Week honors following her performance at UNF last Friday. The Sturgis, Mich. native posted seven kills, three digs, and led the team with six blocks.

Marchand previously earned ASUN Freshman of the Week honors Aug. 28 after an impressive weekend at Clemson's Big Orange Bash. The middle-blocker opened her collegiate career with 11 kills and four blocks against Lamar en route to a .476 hitting percentage.

The Series with Bethune-Cookman

Jacksonville holds a record 50-0 advantage all-time against the Wildcats. Earlier in the season, the Dolphins defeated Bethune-Cookman 3-1 at the teams' season-opening Big Orange Bash at Clemson. The Dolphins hit over .250 in sets 1 (.284), 2 (.257), and 4 (.279) as senior Cristina Finan (10 kills, 14 digs) and sophomore Mallory Mattingly (16 kills, 14 digs) posted double-doubles. Freshman Hannah Marchand (10) and senior Olga Nushtayeva (14) also tallied double-digit kills to help Jacksonville to a .249 hitting percentage in the match.

Scouting the Wildcats

Bethune-Cookman is 4-7 on the year and 2-0 in the MEAC heading into Tuesday's contest. The Wildcats fell to JU earlier in the season, 3-1, at the season-opening Big Orange Bash at Clemson. B-CU took the Dolphins to a marathon first set, 35-37, before falling 25-17 in set two for a 2-0 deficit. The Wildcats battled in game three to steal a 25-22 win and put pressure on JU, but the Dolphins won the final set, 25-22, for their 50th victory against B-CU. In that match, the Wildcats hit .247 in set one and .257 in the third set to average a .221 hitting percentage. Jordan Jefferson (15 kills, 17 digs) and Alana Handy (19 kills, 20 digs) posted double-doubles for the Wildcats, while J'Nai Higgens added 56 assists and 11 digs.

As a team, the Wildcats lead the MEAC in several statistical categories including assists per set (12.23), blocks per set (2.29, 83rd in the nation), kills per set (12.82), and team attacks per set (37.21, 48th in the nation).

Individually, Phlen Clark leads the MEAC with 10.74 assists per set (36th nationally), while teammates Rakaya Neely and Faith Landreneaux hold the top two spots in the MEAC in hitting percentage with.392 and .350, respectively. Neely and Landreneaux also lead the team in total blocks with 40.0 and 28.0, respectively.

Jordan Jefferson (135, 3.29 kills per set) and Alana Handy (107, 2.68 kills per set) lead the Wildcats offensively, while Rechez Lindsay (161), Jefferson (138), and Handy (126) all have over 100 digs on the year. Clark is B-CU's primary setters, with 331 assists so far this season.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Jacksonville University Athletics, along with JU Volleyball, would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to the University of North Florida Athletics for opening its doors in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Jacksonville's Historic Swisher Gymnasium earned some battle scars three weeks ago from Irma, and was rendered unplayable for the foreseeable future. The Ospreys graciously and selflessly opened UNF Arena to allow JU to continue to practice, as well as host its home-opening tournament – the Dolphin Invitational – three weeks ago.

Although rivals in spirit, we are all part of the Jacksonville community. Thank you, North Florida and UNF Athletics.

Up Next

The Dolphins return to action this weekend when they play host to Kennesaw State and Lipscomb at UNF Arena. Jacksonville faces the Owls Friday, Oct. 6 and the Bisons Saturday, Oct. 7. Both matches are slated for 4 p.m.