KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville University volleyball fell three sets to one at Kennesaw State on Friday night.

The Dolphins battled, taking the Owls to the brink in sets one and four, while winning the third set, but it was not enough in the ASUN Conference play matchup.

SET ONE

JU took an early lead on a service ace from Niccola Bozzini to go up 6-5, and then had to rally later in the set, after trailing 12-8, to take a 15-12 run after a 6-0 run, which was capped off by a Kyndaal Stansberry and Keyauna Linwood block. It went back-and-forth until the Dolphins took a four-point lead when Stansberry had a kill to make it 23-19. After a timeout, Kennesaw State rallied, scoring four straight to tie it at 23.

The set went into extra points, with the Owls eventually prevailing, 28-26 to take the first set.

SET TWO
Isa Dostal had a kill to give JU an early 3-1 lead, but KSU went on a tear after that, eventually leading by as many as seven, 15-8. Dostal had a pair of kills and Linwood and Jenna McNamara combined for a block to fuel a 3-0 run, before the lead grew to six again, 17-11.

JU scored six of eight points at one stretch to come storming back to cut the deficit to 23-21, but KSU scored the last two points of the set to win 25-21.

SET THREE

Trailing early, JU fought to keep up with the Owls and to stave off the sweep. Behind 10-7, JU ripped off a 7-0 run, featuring multiple kills by Dostal and McNamara to make the lead 14-10, in favor of JU. The Dolphins maintained the lead until KSU tied it at 21.

After it was tied at 22, JU rattled off three straight to close out the set, using an Owl error, an ace by McNamara to make set point and a kill from Stansberry to finish it.

SET FOUR

Kennesaw State jumped out early, leading 5-1 and 7-3. JU scored four straight to tie it at seven, thanks to a kill by Barbora Romanova and several Owl errors. The Dolphins went up 13-10 when Dostal and Linwood had kills and Gyrani Rogers added an ace.

The lead stayed as many as three for JU until Kennesaw State tied it at 20, then took a 22-21 lead. The Owls got to set point before McNamara had consecutive kills to keep the Dolphins alive, but KSU closed it out, 25-23, to win the set and match.

Stansberry led JU with 15 kills, Dostal was also in double-figures with 13. Camryn Honn had a team-high 23 assists, with Bozzini chipping in 11. Kariana Ayala led the team with 24 digs and Linwood had three blocks.

Jacksonville stays on the road to face Liberty at 1 p.m. on Sunday.