CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jacksonville University volleyball controlled throughout on Saturday, handily winning in three sets over Queens the Levine Center.
 
The Dolphins (8-16, 5-7) bounced back from a loss at Kennesaw State the night before and bookended the four-game, two-week road trip with a second win.
 
SET ONE
 
After a back-and-forth scoring start, JU used a 5-0 run, fueled by two kills and a block by Alija Heins to go up 11-7 and force a timeout by Queens. The teams took turns scoring consecutive points after that, until a 3-0 run by the Dolphins, highlighted by a pair of service aces by Rebecca Rocassin, made it 19-13 JU and Queens took its second timeout.
 
The Royals scored three-straight out of the break to cut the deficit to three, 19-16, but a kill by Lyric Love and an ace for Anna Erickson pushed the lead back to five, 21-16. Jenna McNamara had a kill and combined with Heins for a block, and another ace, this time by Kariana Ayala-Drew got JU to set point. Queens scored two-straight to try and rally, but McNamara's fourth kill of the opening set secured a 25-19 win to open the match.
 
SET TWO
 
JU opened the second set hot, scoring seven-straight, with McNamara delivering three kills, to force a Queens timeout after the score was 7-1. The Royals managed three-straight after that, but JU answered with five of the next six, thanks in part to two kills and a block by Heins, making it 12-5.
 
After a quick point by Queens, Erickson scored twice in a 3-0 run, and the lead grew to 15-6 for the Dolphins. The Royals gradually cut into the JU lead, scoring fix of six at one point to get it to five, 18-13, and the Dolphins took a timeout. Not long after, two kills by McNamara helped the Dolphins on a 4-0 run to get to the brink of set point, 23-14. Queens did not go away, scoring five of the next six, but could not get any closer than five, as Erickson finished it off to win the set 25-19 and take a 2-0 match lead.
 
SET THREE
 
Queens scored five of the first seven points as they looked to stave off the sweep. JU pushed back, finally tying things at seven thanks to a combo block by Love and McNamara. McNamara then capped a 3-0 run with a kill to help put JU in front, 10-8. The Royals came back to tie it at 13, but Heins and Love followed with kills to put the Dolphins back up 15-13 at the media timeout.
 
The lead stayed around two for JU, until an ace by Ayala-Drew made it 19-16, then a block by Heins and Erickson made the lead three again, 22-19. Queens took a timeout, scored three of the next four after it to get within one, 23-22, but JU scored the last two, capping things with a kill by Love to win the set 25-22 and complete the sweep.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Dolphins return home to host crosstown rival North Florida in the second River City Rumble of the season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 

• Alija Heins set a new career-best with 13 kills
• Jenna McNamara led the way with 15 kills, her ninth double-digit effort of the season
• Rebecca Rocassin's 42 assists trail only her 44 in the win over Queens at home for total assists in a three-set match this season
• Anna Erickson had a season-high 16 digs
• Lauren Young made her first career start
• 62 digs were the most for the Dolphins in a three-set match this year