JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Holding one of the top teams in the ASUN Conference on their toes in the second and third sets, the Jacksonville University volleyball team pressured Kennesaw State late in the match though the Owls left Historic Swisher Gymnasium with a 3-0 win, Friday evening.

Senior Mallory Mattingly led the Dolphins (10-20, 5-10 ASUN) with seven kills and four digs, while junior Madison Rayam and freshman Sydney Bolding notched five kills each to fuel the JU's offense. Anchoring Jacksonville's defense, senior Natalie Wehner posted seven digs and a pair of service aces in the effort.

With five kills, four digs, and two blocks, freshman Lexi Wierzbicki was named Hodges Mazda Player of the Game.
 

The visitors opened the match with a 7-2 run to take control of the first set. Wierzbicki and freshman Madison Dagenhart came up with a big block to end a four-point Owl run, and back-to-back Dolphin points brought Jacksonville within six, 12-6. Jacksonville strung another 3-0 run together late in the set as kills from Bolding and Mattingly sandwiched a service ace from freshman Addyson Lewis for an offensive spark. With just two points thereafter, the Dolphins yielded to Kennesaw State in the opener, 25-12.

Facing a 6-1 deficit early in the second, the Dolphins got to work and matched the Owls point for point before a 4-0 run brought JU within three, 15-12. A kill from Rayam capped a three-point streak later in the set that saw the Dolphins erase their deficit further to just one, 18-17. Jacksonville kept on their Owls' heels, 21-20, before a 4-1 KSU run finished the set, 25-21.

Back-and-forth battling made for an entertaining third set as the teams exchanged the lead three times and deadlocked on seven different occasions. Despite back-to-back kills from Lewis and Mattingly to tie the set at 15 all, Kennesaw State finished the set with a decisive 10-point run to take the match, 25-15.

Sophomore Natalie Martin (13) and Dagenhart (8) shared time setting, as the duo combined for 21 assists. Lewis contributed with four digs and one ace.

Three Owls had double-digit kills, as Lauren Chastang led Kennesaw State's effort with 11 kills, 13 digs, and five aces.

The Dolphins close out the regular season with Senior Night tomorrow evening when they welcome Lipscomb at 7 p.m.