JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University volleyball team took the court of Swisher Gymnasium for the final time in the regular season Saturday against FGCU. The Dolphins (3-13, 1-11) once more gave the Eagles (12-2, 10-2) everything they had, playing close all night long but it was enough as JU was downed in straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-16).
 
Set one saw both teams lead in the early going, with things even at 5-5 through the first 10 points of the night. FGCU then scored the next three points to regain the lead before Camryn Honn and Jenna McNamara notched a pair of kills to break the Eagles' run and stay within arm's reach. The Eagles maintained their advantage as the set progressed, before Autumn DeSantis led a 4-1 sequence with two kills to once again draw JU back within striking distance. A late push of four-straight points from FGCU late in the set made it 22-17 and allowed the visitors to go on and take the opening set 25-20.
 
Jacksonville scored first in set two on a kill from DeSantis before FGCU scored the next four to take their first lead of the set. JU then scored four of the next five by way of kills from DeSantis and Barbora Romancova and an ace from Addyson Lewis to draw even at 5-5. The two teams then settled in and exchanged points until the Eagles pieced together a 4-1 sequence of their own to regain the lead at 13-9. DeSantis and McNamara helped keep Jacksonville close through the middle phases of the set and were able to draw within two points late at 22-20, but were unable to rally as FGCU took the set 25-20.
 
FGCU jumped out to 7-3 lead in set three but Honn and McNamra posted kills around an attack error by the Eagles to draw back within one at 7-6. The next five points went the way of FGCU as their lead moved to six and they retook control of the set. Jacksonville tried once more to claw back behind Sydney Bolding, McNamara and Romancova, but the Eagles were able to answer every point JU scored with one of their own through the middle and end of the set to lead 21-15 in the late going before scoring five of the final six points of the night to take the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
 
DeSantis and McNamara led JU with nine kills each in the match while Bolding and Rayam added seven and five respectively. Honn dished out 29 assists for the night and recorded four kills, one shy of her season high. Avery Perosa led the Dolphins with 16 kills to increase her season total to 216 while Addyson Lewis and Gyrani Rogers each had 10 in the match.
 
With Saturday being the home finale, the Dolphins recognized the three seniors on this year's team, Avery Perosa, Hannah Edelman and Madison Rayam in a pre-match ceremony to celebrate their careers and highlight their accomplishments on the court.
 
Up next for Jacksonville, they will head to Fort Myers next Saturday March 27 for the first round of the 2021 ASUN Conference Volleyball Championships. The Dolphins will be the fourth seed in the ASUN South Division and will match up once more with top-seeded division winner FGCU in a match scheduled for 7 PM.