TAMPA – For the second time in as many games, the Jacksonville University volleyball team battled in five sets. Tuesday evening, however, the ending fell a different way as the Dolphins dropped a hard-fought match at South Florida, 3-2, at The Corral.

"It was another day that we battled against a really good team. We just had too many down moments this evening that we couldn't dig ourselves out of, but our high moments were as good as I've ever seen," noted head coach Evan Muys. "We're getting better every day and we're excited to get into practice this week and get ready for a tough weekend of road matches."

Producing her fifth double-double of the season, senior Mallory Mattingly led the Dolphins with 18 kills and 16 digs. Junior Briana Kipp added 13 kills, while classmate Bailey Foy notched eight kills and five blocks in the effort. Mattingly was named the match's Hodges Mazda Player of the Game. 
 

The opening set was all Jacksonville, beginning with a six-point run that gave the Dolphins an 8-3 lead early. Coming out of a USF timeout, the Dolphins extended their lead to 18-10 before the teams traded several points. With back-to-back aces from Foy, the Dolphins took four of the final five points in the set for a convincing 25-14 win.

Feeding off the momentum of the home crowd, the Bulls opened the second set with a 6-1 advantage and, despite the Dolphins' efforts, did not let off the gas and tied up the match, 25-13.

Jacksonville (2-8) returned with vigor in the third and replaced a three-point deficit with a 14-13 lead. After a lengthy 20 minute break to determine a point challenge, the Dolphins extended their lead to 19-16 to force USF to use a timeout. Despite the hosts bringing the set within two, 24-22, the Dolphins put away the final point on a kill from Kipp for the 25-23 win.

South Florida (4-6) came out hot in the fourth set and though the Dolphins worked to end the Bulls' run, USF turned an 11-4 advantage to a 19-6 advantage to put the set out of reach. On the back of a 25-14 win in the fourth, the hosts forced a deciding set – the second in as many games for the Dolphins.

Continuing its momentum, USF raced out to a 9-2 lead. A kill from sophomore Lindsey Grossman interrupted the Bulls' run as the Dolphins' continued to chip at South Florida's lead. The initial run proved too much, however, as USF stole the match, 15-6.

Foy and Grossman finished the day with two aces each, while sophomore Natalie Martin totaled 45 assists and senior Natalie Wehner added 15 digs.

The Dolphins return to the road this weekend as they head north for the Davidson College Tournament on Sept. 20-21.