LYNCHBURG, Va. – Highlighted by a 13-kill performance from senior Mallory Mattingly, the Jacksonville University volleyball team battled at Liberty in ASUN Conference action, however the Dolphins ultimately fell to the Flames, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at Vines Center.

Mattingly hit .229 on the day to lead the Dolphins (4-11, 1-1 ASUN), while freshman Lexi Wierzbicki added five kills and three blocks in the effort. Freshman Sydney Bolding and junior Bailey Foy also contributed with five kills and three blocks, respectively.

A pair of 4-0 runs in the opening set quickly put the hosts ahead, 15-6. A kill from Bolding opened a 3-0 run for JU to bring things to 16-10 before Liberty put the set out of reach behind a 6-1 run to take the first set, 25-15.

The Dolphins opened the second with a big block from Wierzbicki and Bolding, and back-to-back kills from Mattingly lifted Jacksonville to an early 3-1 lead. JU extended its lead to 6-3, but the Flames were able to match with a three-point run to tie things at 6. The teams traded pints before reaching a 9-9 deadlock, but Liberty continued to pressure the Dolphins with a 6-2 run en route to a 19-13 advantage. Finding its rhythm late, Jacksonville held Liberty at set point on back-to-back points before the Flames managed to finish things, 25-21.

Holding the momentum, Liberty rolled to a 5-2 lead in the third. It didn't take long for the Dolphins to chip away as a three-point rally brought JU within one, 10-9. Evenly matched from there, neither team scored more than twice in a row the rest of the set despite Liberty continuing to hold a slight edge. Jacksonville once again held the hosts to set point as a kill from freshman Addyson Lewis stamped a 2-0 run; however, Liberty finally got its final point of the match on a kill from Rajini Fitzmaurice, 25-23.

Sophomore Natalie Martin neared double-double territory with 25 assists and nine digs, while senior Natalie Wehner added 13 digs in the effort for the Dolphins.

Liberty's Amelia Johns led both teams with a game-high 18 kills, while Macy Phillips notched 19 digs.

Jacksonville looks to bounce back with a non-conference meeting at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.