SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Five players reached double-digit kills – including double-double efforts from senior Mallory Mattingly and freshman Lexi Wierzbicki – as the Jacksonville University volleyball team closed out its weekend in the Midwest against Southeast Missouri State, Saturday morning. Though the tightly contested matchup ended in favor of SEMO, 3-1, freshman Sydney Bolding took home honors as part of the All-Tournament Team in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Tournament, hosted by Missouri State.

After she totaled 16 kills and 11 blocks in a pair of matches yesterday, Bolding continued her hot streak with 10 kills and five blocks against the Redhawks, Saturday morning. Additionally, Wierzbicki notched her first career double-double with a team-high 13 kills and 11 digs, while Mattingly finished the day with 12 kills and 11 digs. Wierzbicki earned Hodges Mazda Player of the Game accolades following the match. 
 

"We battled this weekend against some really good teams. We talked about staying patient and consistent with our group and the wins will come," commented head coach Evan Muys. "We are young but talented, and there were moments of brilliance this weekend, which is encouraging. We know we have some work to do, but we're excited to get better."

Down one early in the match opener, the Dolphins found four-straight points to lead 10-7. Jacksonville (0-3) continued to hold SEMO (1-1) at bay and surged to a 15-10 lead to force a timeout. After trading three-point runs through the middle of the set, the Redhawks found a way to tie the set at 24. Behind a pair of sets from freshman Madison Dagenhart, the Dolphins dropped in kills from freshman Bailey Foy and Mattingly to take the first set, 26-24.

The second set saw Jacksonville battle back from an 8-2 run that led SEMO to a 16-7 advantage. Not to be deterred, the Dolphins called a timeout and kept their poise for a 5-0 rally – highlighted by three consecutive kills from Wierzbicki – to come within three, 21-18. Another 5-1 run brought JU to a deadlock at 24, but this time the final two points fell in favor of SEMO to even the match up, 26-24.

Southeast Missouri State carried that momentum into the third, when it opened the set with three straight points. The Dolphins came out firing with its own 5-0 rally as Mattingly, Bolding, and junior Madison Rayam all recorded kills during the run. Following an 8-3 streak that was cut short by a Dolphin timeout, SEMO closed out the set, 25-21.

As evidenced by eight ties in the score, the fourth set was an incredibly contested game as both teams jockeyed for the lead. A three-point run held SEMO within two points of the match as JU cut its deficit to one, 23-22, but the Redhawks were able to put the final two points on the board for a 25-22 win.

Foy (11 kills) and Rayam (10 kills) finished the day with three blocks each, while senior Natalie Wehner came up with a match-high 33 digs in the effort.

The Dolphins return to action next weekend, Sept. 6-7 as they travel to Alabama for the Troy University Tournament.