JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second straight match, the Jacksonville University volleyball team has made history. Senior
Mallory Mattingly became the 10th player in program history – and second player this weekend – to reach 1,000 career digs as the Dolphins fell to Liberty in a 3-1 decision, Sunday afternoon at Historic Swisher Gymnasium.
"I liked our bounce back this afternoon. Liberty is a good team. While it wasn't the overall outcome we watned, there were a ton of great things we did today," commented head coach
Evan Muys following the game. "I'm really proud of Mal. She has worked incredibly hard and it's paying off. I'm fortunate to be able to coach her and be on the sidelines for both her 1,000th kill and her 1,000th dig."
An outside hitter from Sanford, Fla., Mattingly notched a team-high 12 kills to go along with seven digs in the effort. After reaching 1,000 career kills last season, she joins former Dolphins Sammie Strausbaugh (2012-14), Eva Stoilova (2003-06), and Julie Heipp (1991-94) as they only players in program history to record both milestones in a career at JU.
"It's pretty incredible, especially doing it here in front of a home crowd. To hear my teammates go nuts for me, that's something super special to have happen and to have 1,000 kills on top of that is a dream come true," commented Mattingly following the match.
After hearing she was just one of four players in program history with the achievement, Mattingly added, "I'm just blessed. Coach took a chance on me four years ago. I wasn't supposed to play college volleyball, but here I am. I'm just so grateful for this opportunity, every day."
Notably, freshman
Sydney Bolding was just one block away from tying the Dolphins' single-match, four-set record with 11 blocks. Carrie Windell set the record with 12 against Lamar back in 1997. Bolding also posted seven kills on the day.
Down two in the opening set, 16-14, the Dolphins faced a five-point run from Liberty that extended the Flames' lead to 21-14. As JU countered with a 4-0 run of their own down the stretch, Liberty owned three of the final four points to take set one, 25-20.
Jacksonville quickly took command of the second set with an 8-3 advantage, highlighted by two of junior
Bailey Foy's four blocks. With a sizeable 20-10 lead, Jacksonville faced a five-point rally from the Flames (14-6, 6-4 ASUN). However, it was back-to-back blocks that put the set away as Bolding teamed up with freshman
Lexi Wierzbicki and junior
Madison Rayam to tie the match, 25-18.
Along with her four blocks, Foy finished the day with 11 kills and seven digs. Wierzbicki and Rayam added four blocks each, while Wierzbicki also posted eight kills.
A decisive 6-0 run in the third set gave Liberty just enough momentum to hold the Dolphins off, despite kills from Bolding and Mattingly to hold the Flames at set point. A kill from LU's Casey Goodwin gave the visitors the lead, 25-22.
The Dolphins continued to hold their own against Liberty, in spite of a second six-point run by the Flames through the middle of set four. Although JU returned with a pair of 6-1 rallies of their own, first to come within three at 18-15 then later to take a 22-21 lead, Liberty found a way to take four of the final five points to steal the match, 25-22.
Splitting time as setter, freshman
Madison Dagenhart (19 assists, 3 blocks) and sophomore
Natalie Martin (12 assists, 6 digs) combined for 31 assists on the day.
Liberty was led by Amelia Johnson's double-double effort of 13 kills and 14 digs.
The Dolphins begin a three-game swing next week, beginning with a trip to Stetson on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. before returning to Historic Swisher Gymnasium for a battle with North Alabama the following day with first serve set for 7 p.m. JU then closes out the weekend with a visit up north to NJIT on Sunday, Nov. 3 at noon.
