KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville University volleyball returns to Duval with a split on the weekend after falling at Kennesaw State in ASUN Conference action, 3-0, Saturday evening.

"Tonight was about growth," stated Head Coach Julie Darty. "I credit Kennesaw for having a great scout and game plan on us because they were lights out. The things that make us who we are were kind of forgotten, and when we forget our identity, we are sort of in scramble mode and that's not us.

"I know that we got better today for the long run and we can learn from this; I know we can bounce back. It's about going home, getting to work, taking care of what we need to do, and finishing the regular season in a way that we know how."

Sophomore Alleah Stamatis posted a double-double behind 25 assists and 10 digs, while senior Olga Nushtayeva led the Dolphins with eight kills and three blocks. Sophomores Natalie Wehner (7 kills, 7 digs) and Mallory Mattingly (4 kills, 6 digs) also contributed to the Dolphins' effort.

Defensively, senior Mackenzie Swan totaled 16 digs, while sophomore Amarrah Cooks also recorded a solo block for JU.

"Kenzie had another great night; she had another big night anchoring our defense. Alleah put up some solid numbers with a double-double, but the total team effort just wasn't the same," Darty added. "We will be ok; we will get back to work."

Jacksonville (16-9, 10-2 ASUN) rallied from three points down early on in the opening set, as Cooks and Nushtayeva posted back-to-back kills to bring the Dolphins within one, 6-5. Despite a pair of kills from Mattingly and Stamatis, the Owls (17-4, 11-1 ASUN) surged ahead, 19-10. Not to be deterred, the Dolphins fought back on a 7-2 rally as Swan, Wehner, and Nushtayeva added points to cut Jacksonville's deficit to four, 21-17. JU answered each of the Owls' three points, but Kennesaw State took the first set, 25-20.

Facing a 13-4 deficit in the second game, Jacksonville used a 3-1 run courtesy of kills by Nushtayeva and senior Cristina Finan to half the Owls' advantage, 14-7. A second 4-1 Dolphin rally down the stretch showed promise, but Kennesaw closed out the set on a 7-1 run to take the 25-12 win.

Following the intermission, Jacksonville erased a five-point Kennesaw State lead in the third as four kills from Wehner highlighted an 8-2 rally. Protecting their 9-7 advantage, the Dolphins held off an Owl surge, 12-11. However, a late five-point run pushed the hosts ahead as KSU took the third set, 25-20.

Kennesaw's Lauren Chastang posted 10 kills, while Anaiah Boyer and Katarina Boyer totaled 13 digs each for the hosts.

The Dolphins close out the regular season next weekend when NJIT and USC Upstate visit Historic Swisher Gymnasium. Jacksonville takes on the Highlanders Friday, Nov. 10 and square up with the Spartans Saturday, Nov. 11 on Senior Night. Both matches are set for 6 p.m.