MIAMI, Fla. – The Jacksonville University volleyball team completed the second leg of their season-opening three game road trip Wednesday afternoon at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, as they took on Florida International University. In a pitched back-and-forth affair, the Dolphins (1-1), led by first-year head coach Maggie Couture, emerged victorious in five sets against the Panther (0-1), winning 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10).
 
"I think we really showed who we are and what kind of team we can be," said Couture. "There were some stretches where we were careless with the ball, but when we were on, we were able to do great things and score points when we needed to."
 
On winning her first career match as a head coach, Couture said, "I'm glad to get this first win and glad it was in a match like this. This one is definitely going to be a very memorable one for me, just because of everything this year has thrown at us and what we have had to go through. This group has committed so much since we've been back to being the best versions of themselves. I think they proved to themselves today that that really works. It has been really awesome to see our players develop, some of whom are playing new positions and learning a new style of play. To see everything come together in a win like this one, that is what is going to make this most memorable."
 
Jacksonville started the afternoon by taking their first set of the season 25-23. Hannah Edelman led with way with nine kills on 15 attacks while Camryn Honn notched 14 assists in the set. Things went back and forth for the majority of the action early, as the score was even on 10 occasions. However, with the score knotted at 16, JU went on a 5-0 run led by the South Carolina transfer to take a lead that withstood a late Panther rally, as the visitors took the opening frame 25-23.
 
The Dolphins struggled to find their rhythm in set two, as Florida International was able to control the tempo for the duration. The home team scored five of the first seven and 10 of the first fifteen points to take and maintain a lead they held for all but one point. Despite a scoring run late led by Autumn DeSantis up front, the Dolphins would be unable to comeback and dropped set two 25-20
 
It was just about all-Jacksonville early in set three, as the Dolphins scored eight of the first 10 points in the set to take the early lead. FIU would not go quietly though, as the Panthers managed to claw their way back into the match and get within striking distance at 10-8. JU responded with a 4-0 run, started by an Edelman kill and capped with an ace by Addyson Lewis. The Panthers hung around however, gradually chipping away to get within a point at 22-21 behind Valeria Santos and Emily Meyer. Despite the FIU rally, the Dolphins held firm and took the match 25-23 on a service error.
 
Much like most of the afternoon, set four was a back-and-forth battle that saw each team spend time with the lead. FIU took an early 8-3 lead but JU would score five straight, led by DeSantis up front who recorded two solo blocks and a block assist along with Isa Dostal. Both sides would trade points and neither was able to pull away by more than two until the end of the set, the Panthers scored six of the last seven points to come from behind to win 25-22 and force a decisive fifth set.
 
With the match tied at two games a piece, the Dolphins came out hot to start the fifth and final frame of the day. After FIU scored first on a JU service error, Jacksonville scored four-straight points by way of two kills and two Panther errors to take a lead they would maintain to the end. Florida International tried to attempt one more comeback but would come up short 15-10, as Dostal drove one home to conclude matters in Miami.
 
Edelman finished the day with a double-double, posting 16 kills and 14 digs. Dostal and Barbora Romancova each finished with 14 kills, with the latter also notching seven digs. Honn posted a 43-assist day and also collected a trio of kills and 10 digs from her setter spot. Avery Perosa finished the day with 19 digs and four service aces, while Lewis added 10 digs and two aces.
 
Next up, Jacksonville will wrap up the road trip with a match against Georgia Southern next Tuesday, February 2. First serve is set for 6 PM.