SAN JOSE, Calif. – Jacksonville University volleyball dropped two matches to conclude the Santa Clara/San Jose State Tourney on Saturday.
The Dolphins (1-2) lost in sweeps to both Santa Clara in the early match, followed by San Jose State in the nightcap at Spartan Gym.
MATCH ONE
Santa Clara got off to a hot start, jumping out to an early 8-2 lead in the first set. Kills by
Rebecca Rocassin and
Anna Erickson helped JU get with five, 10-5, but the lead grew out to nine in favor of the Broncos after that. The Dolphins made a late push, scoring six of eight points with two kills by Erickson, Rocassin,
Jenna McNamara and
Claire Mrukowski getting in the mix and Mrukowski teaming up with fellow freshman
Alija Heins for a block to cut the score to 23-17, but Santa Clara then put away the first set, 25-17.
JU used a much stronger start to set two to set the tone, using an early 3-0 run as part of a 5-1 stretch to lead 6-4 after Erickson registered another kill. A combo block by Heins and Mrukowski gave JU the 9-6 lead and personal 3-0 run by Heins, featuring a kill and consecutive aces pushed the JU lead to 13-9.
Santa Clara came back to tie the set at 15 and then again at 17, but JU responded with a 3-0 run with a kill and an ace by Rocassin bookending the run to make it 20-17 Dolphins. A kill by McNamara grew the lead to 22-19, but Santa Clara gathered together and ended the set on a 6-1 run to win 25-23 and go up 2-0 in the match.
Santa Clara started the third set scoring five of the first seven points, but JU did not go away easily. An ace after a combo block by Rocassin and Heins brought the Dolphins within one, 8-7, and Mrukowski and McNamara had kills to keep it close. JU scored five of seven points, with two aces by
Kristina Nika and
Kariana Ayala-Drew to start and end the run, with JU within three late, 19-16. The Dolphins were unable to get any closer, as the Broncos pulled away to win the final set 25-19.
MATCH TWO
The first set started off tied, with JU and San Jose State trading points for the first 10. The Spartans grew the lead to five, 13-8, on the strength of a 3-0 run, but the Dolphins came back with a 3-0 run of its own, thanks to a block by Rocassin and
Lyric Love and a kill from McNamara to cut it to 15-13. SJS ripped off seven of eight points not long after that, taking a 23-15 lead with JU calling timeout. Two quick points by the Dolphins was not enough, as the Spartans took set one, 25-17.
JU got off to a great start in the second set, scoring the first four points and five of the first six, getting multiple kills by Mrukowski and another by Love. San Jose State rallied to tie it at eight, but McNamara picked up a kill and an ace to put JU back in front. The lead grew to three, 14-11, with a combo block by Rocassin and Love. San Jose State tied it again at 15, before a McNamara kill and Rocassin ace once again gave JU the lead. A 4-0 run by SJS put the Spartans on top, 19-17, and the Dolphins were not able to retake the lead. Three of four points scored late got JU within one, 22-21, but SJS closed the set on a 3-0 run to win 25-21.
It was an even start to the third set, with the score tied at 4-4 early. SJS took the lead from there, but a 3-0 run with a kill by Erickson and a combo block by Heins and McNamara tied it at nine. The Spartans pulled away to lead 14-10, before another solid run by JU tied it again at 14, thanks in part to an ace by
Julia de Sa and a kill by Erickson. SJS answered with a 4-0 run of its own, and after JU cut it to 19-17, another 3-0 burst helped them build the cushion they rode to a 25-20 set win and match sweep.
UP NEXT
Jacksonville comes home to host the Jacksonville Invitational presented by Hampton Inn East Regency next Friday and Saturday at Swisher Gym against Northern Arizona, The Citadel and Florida A&M.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
