JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers, 3-0, Friday night in the second match of the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency. Jacksonville was led by graduate student attacker
Madi Novak's team-high eight kills and junior
Alija Heins' four blocks.
How It Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville traded early leads, and a 3-0 run put JU up 9-8 after a kill from junior
Claire Mrukowski. West Virginia took the first real control of the game, going up 20-17 late in the opening set. Novak scored JU's next three kills, but the Mountaineers kept in front, 22-19. The Dolphins cut the lead to one late off of a West Virginia error and a clutch kill from senior
Breanna McDonough to make the score 23-22 WVU.
The visitors would close out the set, though, taking the final two points and winning 25-22.
Set 2
West Virginia jumped all over the Dolphins in the second set, taking a quick four-point lead, and leading 17-6 midway through the game. The Mountaineers pushed that lead to 23-9, but JU wouldn't go down without a fight. Junior
Rebekah Williams earned a kill to put the Dolphins back on the board. JU scored the next six points on her serve to cut the deficit to eight. West Virginia took two of the next four points, though, and won set two, 25-17.
Set 3
It was Jacksonville on the front foot in the third set as it looked to avoid the sweep. The Dolphins' block took control of the game, taking three consecutive points to put JU on the front foot. Jacksonville led midway into the set, taking a 16-12 lead. The Mountaineers rallied, taking six of the next eight points to tie the game at 18. The Dolphins fought, but West Virginia would finish off the set from there, 25-22.
Game Notes
- This was Jacksonville's first home match against a power conference opponent since 2007.
- The Dolphins had five players record at least two block assists.
Up Next
Jacksonville will put a bow on the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency tomorrow as it hosts the Florida A&M Rattlers at 3:30 p.m. The game is JU's "Fourth & Gold" Childhood Cancer Awareness game, and the Dolphins encourage fans to wear gold in support.
