JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University volleyball continued their three-game homestand to conclude the regular season Friday night at Swisher Gymnasium, playing host to ASUN Conference South Division leader FGCU. The Dolphins (3-12, 1-10) began the night strong and rallied late to play their second-straight five-set match, but the comeback attempt came up just short as the Eagles (11-2, 9-2) held on to win the match 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 15-9).
 
Jacksonville started the evening strong, picking up where they left off from the end of Wednesday night's five-set winner, scoring six of the first 10 points of the night by way of three kills, two FGCU errors and a service ace. The Dolphins continued to maintain their lead through the early stages of the match, led in large part by Sydney Bolding and also getting contributions from Autumn DeSantis and Jenna McNamara. With the score at 17-14, JU went on a 5-0 run fueled by four kills from Isa Dostal, Bolding and DeSantis that pushed the lead to eight at 22-14. FGCU tried to rally late but the Dolphins withstood the charge and took the night's first set 25-20.
 
FGCU got off to the quick start in set three, taking 4-1 lead before Jacksonville scored seven of the next eight courtesy of several Eagles' mistakes and a pair of DeSantis kills to go in front 8-5. FGCU scored the next seven points as they retook the lead 12-8 before the two sides exchanged 3-0 runs as the score moved to 15-11 in favor of the visitors. The Eagles managed to gain a little cushion at 19-14 before the Dolphins got back within one at 20-19 after scoring five of the next six. The next four points went the way of FGCU and pushed them to a 25-20 set two win to even the match at 1-1.
 
Set three went back and forth through the first six points before FGCU scored seven in a row and nine of the next 10 to lead 12-4. Barbora Romancova and Bolding led a JU charge to get back into the set at 14-8 but the Eagles managed to maintain their advantage and go on to a 25-18 win to lead 2-1 in the match.
 
Heading to set four, FGCU had their eyes set on finishing things out, but the Dolphins had other ideas. Things went back-and-forth to start the frame before McNamara led a 4-0 run to lead 9-5. Once in front, JU was able to maintain their advantage in large part due to senior Madison Rayam. Coming off the bench, the Alabaster, Alabama native posted four big kills in the set and teamed up with Bolding to post a resounding block in the late going. A kill by DeSantis claimed the set for Jacksonville at 25-20 and forced a fifth set for the third match in a row.
 
The night's final stanza saw FGCU jump in front early and stay in front, taking an eight-point lead at 10-2. Bolding and McNamara recorded some big kills to lead a late push and get within four at 13-9, but the comeback attempt ran out of time, with the Eagles scoring the last two points to take the set 15-9 ad the match 3-2.
 
Bolding finished the night just shy of 20 kills, recording 19 and hitting .531 in the match with four block assists and one solo block. DeSantis posted 15 kills along with three digs and four blocks while McNamara finished with nine kills and two digs. Romancova was in on six blocks during the match and also had six kills and four digs. Honn notched 51 assists in addition to 10 digs and a pair kills. Avery Perosa recorded a pair of service aces and led JU with 17 digs, while Gyrani Rogers and Addyson Lewis had 13 and 11 respectively, with the former also picking up two aces.
 
The Dolphins and Eagles will close out the regular season Saturday night at 7 PM from Swisher Gymnasium. With Saturday being the final home match of the season, Jacksonville's three seniors will be recognized in a ceremony prior to first serve.