DENTON, Tex. - Jacksonville University volleyball opened its 2022 fall season against UNT and UTRGV at the North Texas Invite on Friday.  

The Dolphins fell to North Texas to open the day and dropped the nightcap in three sets to UTRGV in North Texas Volleyball Center.  

MATCH ONE 

JU got off to a strong start, leading halfway through set one 11-7. Lyric Love and Haley Hart battled at the net to help the Dolphins extend the lead. UNT pushed through to get within two of the Dolphins 17-15. The back- and- forth affair continued during the set, extending the Jacksonville lead by one after a block from Hart and Rebecca Rocassin. North Texas fought back to hold the lead to take set one 29-27.  

Set two was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than two until late. Jacksonville pulled away leading 17-13 after Jenna McNamara rattled off two consecutive kills. Also, helping the Dolphins extended the lead was Madison Clark. UNT fought back again to trail by one. The back-and- forth nature continued until UNT took the lead after a couple errors from the Dolphins. North Texas took set two 25-23.  

UNT started off set three with an 8-0 run. An error from UNT gave Jacksonville their first point. Hart and Rocassin racked up kills to get the Dolphins going in the third set. North Texas had momentum throughout, and pulled away to win 25-12, and take the match 3-0. 

Hart led the team with seven kills while McNamara and Clark both added five kills. Rocassin led the way with 21 assists and Addyson Lewis and Gyrani Rogers each had seven digs.  

MATCH TWO  

Set one started as a back- and forth- affair until UTRGV took the lead halfway through the set. Jacksonville had 15 kills overall in set one but wasn't quite enough to push through. Haley Hart and Lyric Love dominated the net for the Dolphins. UTRGV held the lead to take set one 15-25. 

Set two was another nail bitter game for the Dolphins. Jenna McNamara added three kills to help Jacksonville stay within the game, but UTRGV finished the set 25-18.  

Jacksonville led the beginning of game, but UTRGV pushed their way back to the top. UTRGV pulled away with a 25-22 win.  

Haley Hart led the team with seven kills while Love collected 6 kills. Rebecca Rocassin led with 19 assists and Lauren Seibert with 11 digs.  

Jacksonville returns tomorrow in Denton, Tex. To play UNLV at 12pm.