JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A trio of players recorded double-doubles as the Jacksonville University volleyball team improved to 55-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman with a 3-1 victory, Sunday afternoon at Historic Swisher Gymnasium.
Senior
Mallory Mattingly (18 kills, 15 digs) and sophomores
Lindsey Grossman (18 kills, 13 digs) and
Natalie Martin (37 assists, 12 digs) all posted double-double efforts in the win. Freshman
Lexi Wierzbicki contributed to the Dolphins' offense with 13 kills, five digs, five blocks, and four service aces. For her outstanding efforts, Grossman earned
Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.
The Dolphins cruised in the opening set, as JU's 5-1 lead turned into a 17-5 advantage, thanks to an eight-point run. Three kills from Grossman, an ace from Martin, and a solo block and kill from Wierzbicki highlighted that run. The Wildcats took four of the next five points to cut their deficit to 18-9, but the Dolphins did not hesitate. Grossman had a hand in four of JU's final five points of the set, with two kills and a block assist, as JU handily took the opener, 25-13.
Point runs were the determining factor in the second set as the Dolphins used a 4-0 streak to jump ahead 11-6 early on. Bethune-Cookman countered with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 12, but Jacksonville answered back with a 5-2 run to retain its lead, 17-14. This time, it was the Wildcats who pounced ahead thanks to a 3-0 rally before tying the match up with the final four points, 25-21.
Though B-CU took a 9-6 lead early in the third set, Jacksonville came roaring back with a 7-0 rally to take a 13-9 advantage. The Dolphins continued to hold off the Wildcats down the stetch en route to a 25-19 win.
Extra points were needed to decide the fourth and decidedly final set of the match. As JU took a 5-2 lead, the visitors used a 5-1 run to steal the lead, 11-9. Down three, the Dolphins used a 6-0 run to jump ahead, 18-15. The lead changed three more times before Jacksonville put the set away with a kill from Wierzbicki and a block from freshman
Sydney Bolding and Mattingly, 27-25.
Bolding finished the day with four kills and three blocks.
Sterling Williamson led Bethune-Cookman with 11 kills, while Shayla Eugene notched a match-high 25 digs.
The Dolphins close out the regular season next weekend when they welcome Kennesaw State (11/15 – 7 pm) and Lipscomb (11/16 – 7 pm) to Historic Swisher Gymnasium.
