FORT MYERS, Fla. --- The history continues for Jacksonville volleyball, as the Dolphins parlayed their dominant regular season into their first ASUN Tournament win since 2015. Jacksonville downed the North Alabama Lions in four sets Thursday, clinching a spot in the conference semi-finals.
The Dolphins were led by graduate student
Madi Novak who led the team with 17 kills. She added six digs and three blocks on the defensive end.
How It Happened
Set 1
The Dolphins started the match hot, taking a 7-2 lead early in the first set. The Lions flipped the script, though, taking a 15-11 lead at the midway point, forcing Jacksonville to rally an early comeback. The Dolphins took six of the next nine points to re-take the lead on a UNA error.
North Alabama once again flipped the lead, though, but four-straight Dolphin points gave JU a 21-19 edge. Graduate student
Bella Dearinger recorded a service ace to put the 'Phins on set point, and a blocking error gave the opener to Jacksonville, 25-23.
Set 2
Novak added five kills in the second set, as the Dolphins looked to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Jacksonville kept the match within three points most of the way, but North Alabama stayed in front, taking the second 25-21.
Set 3
After dropping the second, Jacksonville got back to its best down the stretch in the third set. While the teams were never separated by more than six points, the Dolphins led from start to finish. In the closing stages, Jacksonville finished strong. JU took seven of the final 10 points, with the trio of Novak, sophomore
Haley Yount and senior
Breanna McDonough heating up Jacksonville's offense en route to a 25-19 set win.
Set 4
It looked as if the Lions were destined to force a fifth set, taking an 11-3 lead early in the fourth. From that point on, though, JU played its best volleyball of the night. A 12-1 Jacksonville run swung the match on its head and put the Dolphins back in pole position for a semi-final spot.
North Alabama re-tied the set at 16, but senior
Rebekah Williams answered with a kill to put JU back in front. Novak ripped off three-straight kills to put Jacksonville three points from the match win. Junior
Alija Heins got Jacksonville to set point, and a quick UNA error gave the set and match to the 'Phins.
Coach's Comments
"It wasn't our prettiest match of the year, but we found a way to stay composed and play gritty," head coach Alicia Manguiat said. "I'm proud of the determination we showed. Madi Novak was so impressive and led the team with her aggressiveness."
Match Notes
- Jacksonville's last run to the ASUN Semifinals came in 2015. Its last run to the conference championship came in 2014, when the Dolphins won the league en route to the NCAA Tournament.
- Novak's recorded double-digit kills in four-straight matches, a season-long streak for her. Her 17 kills tie a season high and are the most in a four-set match.
- Williams, Yount and McDonough all finished with nine kills.
- Senior libero Kristina Nika recorded 23 digs, her third match with at least 20 digs in her last seven appearances.
Up Next
The Dolphins will face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in the conference semifinals tomorrow. First serve is slated for 4 PM. Jacksonville defeated EKU in the team's lone matchup this season, with the Dolphins winning 3-0 on home soil at Swisher Gymnasium.
