DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team completed a perfect weekend at the Bash at the Beach, closing the tournament with a straight-sets win over hosting Bethune-Cookman.

The Dolphins (7-2) were led by senior Breanna McDonough's 11 kills. She tallied 32 kills throughout the tournament, and hit the ball at an impressive .533 for the weekend, earning tournament MVP honors. Junior setter Jade Cuya Cobos was also named to the All-Tournament team. 

How It Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville jumped out in front with a powerful drive from graduate student Madi Novak and a soft drop to the floor from McDonough. The Dolphins kept rolling, taking the first five points and forcing an early Wildcats timeout.

The hosts woke up after the stoppage, taking seven of the next eight points. The Wildcats worked the lead to three points, forcing a Dolphins timeout. Jacksonville battled back, and McDonough tied the game at 14 with a hammer off the Bethune block.

Neither team separated as the teams tied the game at 20. JU finally pulled into pole position after Bethune-Cookman was called in the net to put the 'Phins on set point, 24-22. The Wildcats rallied to tie the set at 24, or so it seemed.

The final hit was originally ruled out, but on replay, McDonough was awarded her seventh kill of the set to put the Dolphins up 1-0 in the match.

Set 2
Junior Alija Heins stuffed a Wildcats attack early in set two to put JU up 10-2. Bethune-Cookman warmed up offensively, but the Dolphins stayed in front as junior Rebekah Williams put JU up 15-7.

Jacksonville kept its foot on the gas, as a soft set to the outside from Cuya Cobos teed up Williams for a laser beam to make the score 20-10. A net violation put JU two points from a set victory.

Bethune-Cookman missed an attack wide, putting the Dolphins on set point, 23-14. The Wildcats put the next point into the net, giving the second game to Jacksonville.

Set 3
The Dolphins got out in front early as they tried to close out the match in three sets. Novak crushed the ball across the court to put JU up 9-5. The Dolphins were halfway to victory after a quick 3-0 run put them up 13-7.

After a Wildcats timeout, Jacksonville took the next three points to get within ten points of the match victory. Bethune-Cookman pulled within four, 18-14, but JU closed out the match with authority. 

Novak put the ball away to get Jacksonville to 20 points, and junior Claire Mrukowski followed it up with a kill of her own. Heins floated a changeup over the net to make it 23-15. The Wildcats wouldn't go quietly, taking four-straight points.

Heins broke the Bethune-Cookman streak to put JU on match point. Williams called match when her kill hit off a Wildcats defender as Jacksonville ended on top, 25-21

Coach's Comments
It was a good weekend for us, we learned a lot about ourselves," head coach Alicia Manguiat said. "We served aggressively, which is something we had been working on. I also saw a lot of good things from our pin attackers. We're looking forward to a day of rest and then getting back to work on Monday. We've got a big weekend to prepare for at home."

Game Notes

• This is Jacksonville's first undefeated non-conference tournament run since the Wingate Invitational in 2014.
• Williams finished with her second double-double of the weekend, recording 10 kills and a joint team-high 15 digs. Her five digs per set are a season-high.
• McDonough set a season-high in hitting percentage in back-to-back games, hitting .556 on the day. She's hit north of .500 in back-to-back games.
• Seven non-conference wins are the most for JU since 2017, with another tournament still to play.

Up Next
Jacksonville will finally return to the friendly confines of historic Swisher Gymnasium next weekend as it hosts the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency. JU will face Jacksonville State (6 p.m. Thursday), West Virginia (6 p.m. Friday) and Florida A&M (3:30 p.m. Saturday) in the three-day tournament to close the non-conference season.