JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Jacksonville volleyball dueled the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in a battle of top ASUN sides, with the Dolphins falling in four sets. 

Graduate student Madi Novak shined in the match, setting a season high with four kills per set (16 total) while hitting 1,000 kills in her college career. She also tallied a double-double with a season-high 13 digs.

How It Happened
Set 1
The first two sets were marathons befitting the top two teams in the conference. Neither side led by more than four points the entire set, and as soon as FGCU took that four-point lead, the Dolphins erased the deficit to tie things at 20.

Jacksonville reached set point first, with Novak putting the Dolphins up 24-23. The teams tied at 26, and JU found the final fight to close things out. Sophomore Haley Yount tied the match at 26 to fend of an FGCU set point. An error put the Dolphins a point away, and another error gave the opener to Jacksonville, 28-26.

Set 2
The Eagles were in control most of the second set, taking a 21-14 lead. The Dolphins took the next five points to cut the deficit to two, and Yount and senior Breanna McDonough combined for a block on the right side to tie the set at 23. Jacksonville fought off one set point to tie the game at 25, but FGCU took back-to-back points to take the set, 27-25. 

Set 3
FGCU kept in front through the third, holding in front the whole way. The Dolphins cut the deficit to two, 18-16, but the Eagles closed it out 25-18.

Set 4
The fourth set was a battle through the early points before the Eagles pulled away in the middle of the set, taking a 16-11 lead. The Dolphins couldn't close the gap, with Florida Gulf Coast winning 25-19 to take the match.

Match Notes

• Novak finished with her third double-double of the season.
• The Dolphins had three players record double-digit kills (Novak, McDonough and senior Rebekah Williams).
• Senior Kristina Nika led the way defensively with 19 digs (4.75 per set).

Up Next
The Dolphins will host the Stetson Hatters Saturday for the final game of the regular season. First serve is slated for 5 PM.