JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hitting .467 on the night, freshman Lexi Wierzbicki led a trio of Jacksonville University volleyball players who hit .300 or better, but the Dolphins were unable to overcome the momentum from a strong third set from North Florida in a 3-1 decision, Friday evening at UNF Arena.

Wierzbicki notched nine kills on 15 attempts to lead the Dolphins' offense and was named the Hodges Mazda Player of the Game following the match.
   

Adding their hot hands in the mix, Madison Rayam hit .357 with seven kills (7-2-14) and freshman Sydney Bolding posted a .333 hitting percentage with eight kills (8-1-21).

Down 8-4 in the opening set, the Dolphins (9-19, 5-9 ASUN) ran out with five-straight points to take a 9-8 lead. The teams traded points thereafter, with six total ties in the score, but a 10-1 Osprey run down the stretch gave the hosts a 22-13 lead to put things out of reach. North Florida (14-15, 6-7 ASUN) sealed the set with two of the final three points, 25-16.

A 4-0 run in the opening points of the second set the tone as the Dolphins took a 6-2 lead. The Ospreys found a way back within one, 8-7, but the Dolphins kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way. A 4-1 run extended JU's lead to five, 15-10, as the Dolphins held that lead throughout to tie the match with a 25-20 win.

Jacksonville had a successful challenge early on, as a ball was called down and the point for UNF overturned. The Ospreys, however, used that as fuel to gain a sizable 17-5 advantage. Unable to find their rhythm, the Dolphins dropped the third set, 25-8.

Taking a 5-3 lead early in the third, JU worked to hold the Ospreys at bay and stayed one step ahead with a 10-8 advantage. As the teams traded points once more, with ties on four different occasions, the Dolphins used a 3-0 run with a kill and an ace from Wierzbicki to regain their lead, 17-15. With help from the home crowd, UNF managed to gain a 20-18 lead. A kill from freshman Lindsey Grossman brought JU within one, 21-20, and a touch challenge on match point, 25-21, reversed the point in JU's favor to make it 24-22 UNF much to the chagrin of the hosts and Osprey fans. UNF, however, managed the final point to take the match, 25-22.

Senior Mallory Mattingly recorded a double-double with a team-high 12 kills and 10 digs, while classmate Natalie Wehner notched a match-high 17 digs. Sophomore Natalie Martin (20) and freshman Madison Dagenhart (16) combined for 26 assists.

North Florida was led by Solimar Cestero's 24 kills and Rocio Moro's 15 digs.

The Dolphins return to action on Sunday, Nov. 10 when they play welcome Bethune-Cookman to Historic Swisher Gymnasium at 1 p.m.