DELAND, Fla. – For the first time since 2014, Jacksonville University beach volleyball opened the ASUN Conference Tournament with a win. The #5 Dolphins defeated #4 Mercer, 3-2, in the tournament opener before falling to #1 Stetson Saturday afternoon at Stetson's Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts.
Match 1 – vs. #4 Mercer
The Dolphins needed extra points in each of their individual match wins, but JU found a way to win as the 1s, 3s, and 5s persevered to down the Bears.
The No. 1 pair of sophomore Morgan Dees and junior Katie Krawczyk opened their match with a 22-20 win, and bounced back from a 21-15 loss in the second by taking the tiebreaker to extra points, 17-15.
Seniors Mackenzie Swan and Cristina Finan teamed up at the No. 3 position for a 22-20, 21-18 win, while freshman Savannah Siegrist and senior Shelby Babowicz sealed the win with a 21-14, 22-20 victory at the No. 5 spot.
Jacksonville 3, Mercer 2
1. Morgan Dees/Katie Krawczyk (JU) def. Sophie Peel/Kacy Ogden (MER) 22-20, 15-21, 17-15
2. Amber Gibson/Gracie Garanich (MER) def. Lauren Petersen/Mallory Mattingly (JU) 21-12, 21-17
3. Mackenzie Swan/Cristina Finan (JU) def. Jessica Johnson/Elli Gibson (MER) 22-20, 21-18
4. Kylie Keeling/Elli Merchant (MER) def. Shaylee Befus/Bethany Salapek (JU) 21-8, 21-18
5. Savannah Siegrist/Shelby Babowicz (JU) def. Lela McIntosh/Marina Chavez (MER) 21-14, 22-20
Match 2 – vs. #1 Stetson
Facing the No. 17 team in the nation for the second-straight week, the Dolphins battled but ultimately fell to the #1 seeded team and tournament hosts Stetson, 5-0.
Dees and Krawczyk pushed their opening set to extra points, but were unable to secure the win, 22-20, 21-13.
Both the 3s (Swan/Finan) and 5s (Siegrist/Babowicz) pushed their first set to 16 points, while the all-freshmen duo of Shaylee Befus and Bethany Salapek at the No. 5 position extended their second set to 16 points.
#17 Stetson 5, Jacksonville 0
1. Darby Dunn/Sammee Thomas (STET) def. Morgan Dees/Katie Krawczyk (JU) 22-20, 21-13
2. S. Helland-Hansen/Carly Perales (STET) def. Mallory Mattingly/Lauren Petersen (JU) 21-9, 21-14
3. Rachel Noble/Samantha Harris (STET) def. Mackenzie Swan/Cristina Finan (JU) 21-13, 21-16
4. Lauren Durham/Julie Varga (STET) def. Shaylee Befus/Bethany Salapek (JU) 21-16, 21-10
5. Quinci Birker/Rebecca Ingram (STET) def. Savannah Siegrist/Shelby Babowicz (JU) 21-11, 21-16
The Dolphins return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 22 when they take on #2 Florida Gulf Coast at 11 a.m.
