DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, 3-1, in the opening match of the Bash at the Beach Tournament. 

The Dolphins (5-2) were led by junior Claire Mrukowski, who finished with 13 kills (3.25 per set). JU had three players finish with double-digit kills.

How It Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville roared to a first-set victory, 25-12, as the Dolphins set the tone for the match. There was little to separate the sides in the first few points, but a 3-0 JU run gave the 'Phins an early 6-3 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Dolphins blew the game wide open with a 5-0 run to go up 18-9, capped off by a service ace from junior Alija Heins. Heins would later close out the set, sending a thunderous block back over the net for the deciding point.

Set 2
The Buccaneers rallied in the second set. Charleston Southern took an early 7-3 lead, and Jacksonville was left playing catch up the rest of the set. An attack error cut the deficit to one, but the Buccaneers scored the next nine points to take control. The Dolphins locked into gear, racing off a seven-point run of their own to make the game 21-18. Jacksonville couldn't complete the comeback, though, and Charleston Southern took the second set 25-21.

Set 3
JU was back to its best in the third set. The Dolphins took the first big lead of the set as graduate student Madi Novak scored a kill to put Jacksonville up 7-4. Senior Breanna McDonough powered the ball over the net to double up the Buccaneers, 12-6. Williams pushed the ball down Charleston Southern's left side to put the Dolphins on set point with a commanding 24-14 lead. The Buccaneers put on a furious rally, scoring nine-straight points to cut the lead to one. But Williams broke through, smashing the ball back over the net to take the set, 25-23.

Set 4
The Dolphins pulled ahead midway through the fourth set, as Yount thundered a kill to put JU up 11-7. Novak laced the ball through the Charleston Southern defense to put Jacksonville up 20-12. Graduate student Bella Dearinger served the ball off a defender to put the 'Phins on set point, 24-13. Novak would be the one to close it out, finding a hole on the Buccaneers back line for the winning kill, 25-16.

Game Notes

• Williams finished with 11 kills and 15 digs, her second double-double of the season.
• Senior Kristina Nika led the team with 17 digs.
• Jacksonville outscored CSU 96-76 for the match.

Up Next
The Dolphins will be back on the floor in Daytona Beach this afternoon, facing the South Carolina State Bulldogs at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on the Bethune-Cookman YouTube page.