TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins opened the 2025 volleyball season with authority, defeating the UAB Blazers, 3-2, in a five-set thriller. Jacksonville has won its last three season openers.

Sophomore Haley Yount led the way with 16 kills, setting a new career high. Junior Rebekah Williams made an impression in her Dolphin debut, recording 15 kills and 16 digs, both career highs. 

How it Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville came out sharp in its first set of the year. The Dolphins took the first four points of the match, all coming from new faces. Williams scored her first two kills of the season, and graduate student Madi Novak earned her first as a 'Phin afterwards.

Williams capped the run with a service ace.

Even as the Blazers battled back, Jacksonville wouldn't relinquish its lead in the first set.

A UAB service error put the Dolphins on 20 points and gave them a four-point advantage. After two quick Blazer scores, senior outside hitter Breanna McDonough hammered a kill to swing the momentum back to Jacksonville.

Junior middle blocker Alijah Heins took over on the serve, winning three-straight points off of aces to clinch set point. Another Blazer service error secured the first-set win, 25-21.

Set 2
Set one was a back-and-forth battle, but the second set was Dolphin domination. The set was tied at 4-4, and then Jacksonville swung the tide. The Dolphins won five-straight points. Yount scored a kill to double up the Blazers, 12-6.

Jacksonville nursed a healthy advantage the rest of the way. Senior libero Kristina Nika subbed into the match for the first time this season and quickly scored a service ace to put the 'Phins on set point.

Williams finished off UAB with a kill courtesy of a Claire Mrukowski assist to put Jacksonville up two sets.

Set 3
The third set was back to the battle, with the Blazers looking to stave off the straight-sets sweep. The Dolphins led early before UAB rebounded to tie the game at 14. Every time the Blazers went on a run, Jacksonville rallied to tie the game.

UAB led by as many as three, but the Dolphins fought to tie the set at 22. The Blazers answered with another mini-run to extend the match, winning 25-23.

Set 4
The fourth set was a near repeat of the third, with neither side pulling far ahead of the other. Mrukowski pulled the Dolphins ahead 14-12, but UAB answered with a quick three-point run to retake the lead.

Yount and Mrukowski stonewalled the Blazers at the net to cap off a 3-0 run for Jacksonville to go up 17-15. UAB took a 22-19 lead, but again the Dolphins rallied with a run to tie it up. The Blazers had the answer, though, forcing a deciding set with a 25-23 win.

Set 5
Almost nothing separated the two sides in the deciding set. UAB would take a slight lead, but Jacksonville had an answer to close the gap. The Dolphins tied the game at 13, pulling two points away from an opening win.

The Blazers committed an attacking error to put Jacksonville on match point, 14-13. UAB answered to pull back even at 14. Yount scored a kill to put the Dolphins back on match point, and Nika scored a service ace to clinch the victory. 

Coach's Comments
"Glad to get our first win of the season," JU head coach Alicia Manguiat said. "UAB challenged us in a lot of ways and there were some very good lessons learned for our team. I was proud of our composure at the very end, that was a big reason we were able to pull out the win." 

Game Notes

• Freshman Sydey Fischer and graduate student Bella Dearinger each recorded at least 20 assists. The last time JU had two setters with 20 or more assists in a game was Oct. 30, 2024 in a 3-1 win over North Florida.
• JU recorded more kills, digs and service aces than UAB.
• Four Dolphins recorded at least 12 kills.

Next Up
The Dolphins will rest up for an evening showdown with the hosting Alabama Crimson Tide. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST. The match will be streamed on SECN Network+.