JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team closed out its 2025 non-conference season and the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency Saturday afternoon with a five-set win over the Florida A&M Rattlers.

The Dolphins were led by season-high kill totals from graduate student Madi Novak (17) and junior Claire Mrukowski (16). Mrukowski and sophomore Haley Yount were also named to the All-Tournament team for their performances this weekend.

How It Happened
Set 1
The Dolphins set the tone early, taking the first set in commanding fashion. They took a 6-1 lead early and stayed in cruise control from then on out. Florida A&M cut the lead to three, 14-11, but JU responded with a commanding 6-0 run to put the set out of reach. Junior Rebekah Williams scored a kill to put the Dolphins on set point, and a Rattlers hitting error gave the first set to the hosts, 25-17

Set 2
The second set was a dogfight throughout, as Florida A&M rallied from its early struggles. The Rattlers led 10-7 early in the set, as the Dolphins rallied back to tie the game at 12. The sides traded points until Jacksonville seized control late.

Williams ripped off three kills, surrounding a service ace from sophomore Ana Tobar, to push JU's lead to 23-18. It looked like the Dolphins would close it out there, but Florida A&M took four-straight points from JU to tie the game at 24. Jacksonville turned its eyes to its front row to close out the set, with McDonough putting the team to set point before a Rattlers error secured the Dolphins set win.

Set 3
Florida A&M showed resilience to avoid the sweep, holding control of much of set three. Jacksonville kept the pace, narrowly behind the Rattlers much of the set. JU cut the deficit to two, 22-20, but Florida A&M closed out the set, 25-21, to force a fourth.

Set 4
Despite four kills from Mrukowski, the Dolphins could rally their momentum in the fourth. The Rattlers took a big lead early in the set and held on for a 25-16 set win to force a deciding fifth. 

Set 5
After dropping two sets, Jacksonville dug deep to find a winning spark in the tiebreak set. The sides traded points early, before the Dolphins seized control. JU took four-straight points off of Rattlers errors to take a 9-6 lead. FAMU took a point back on a Jacksonville error, but the Dolphins took the final six points to close out the match win and secure a 2-1 tournament record.

Game Notes

• Jacksonville's 9-3 start is the program's best since 2013, when the Dolphins went 30-4 en route to an ASUN Championship.
• Nine non-conference wins is the most in a season since 2013, when Jacksonville notched 12 such victories.
• Senior Kristina Nika led the team with a season-high 22 digs. 

All-Tournament Team
The Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency presented its all-tournament team and Most Valuable Player honors after Saturday's matches.

All-Tournament Team
Kayla Williams, Jacksonville State
LonDynn Betts, West Virginia (MVP)
Claire Mrukowski, Jacksonville
Luci Wilkinson, Jacksonville State
Haley Yount, Jacksonville
Nina Horning, West Virginia
Trinity Sheridan, West Virginia
Ruxandra Fleuras, Florida A&M

Coach's Comments
"This weekend was a great learning experience for us," head coach Alicia Manguiat. "We learned a lot about ourselves against three strong opponents, and we're going to take these lessons into the start of conference play next week."

Up Next
The Dolphins will open ASUN play against the Queens Royals Friday, Sept. 26.