CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team traveled to North Carolina for the first night of conference play, as the Dolphins took down the Queens Royals, 3-1. Jacksonville (10-3) hit .257 as a team, while their defense recorded 10 blocks to keep the Royals at bay. 

How It Happened
Set 1
The Dolphins roared to a 25-18 win in the opening set. After the two teams traded points in the early going, Jacksonville took off to go up 9-5 and stay on the front foot the rest of the way. After a brief Queens run, the Dolphins extended the lead to 14-9.

Sophomore Haley Yount showcased elite net-front defense, recording back-to-back blocks to put JU up 21-15. A Queens error put JU on set point, and graduate student Madi Novak closed out the first set with a kill. 

Set 2
Set two was a near copy of the first, with the Dolphins pulling ahead midway through the battle. Jacksonville took the first big lead of the set, with senior Breanna McDonough scoring a pair of kills to cap a 5-0 'Phins run to take a 16-10 lead.

The Dolphins top scorers closed it out from there, with junior Claire Mrukowski continuing a strong night to get JU three points away, and McDonough putting the Dolphins on set point. Yount sealed the deal with a kill, giving JU set two, 25-21. 

Set 3
The hosting Royals flipped the script in the third set, taking an early lead off of a handful of Dolphins errors. Queens took a commanding 23-16 lead, and despite a late kill from McDonough, closed out the set, 25-17.

Set 4
It looked like the Royals run wasn't finished just yet, as they held an early 12-9 lead in the fourth set. Queens kept its foot on the gas, taking a 15-10 advantage into the fourth, looking destined for a tiebreak set. The Dolphins found their guile, winning six of the next seven points to tie the set at 16. From there it was a new ball game.

A Queens service error tied the game at 20. The Dolphins went back in front on the next point, with Mrukowski roping the ball down the line. Neither side pulled far in front, but Mrukowski and Novak put JU up 23-21. McDonough put Jacksonville on set point, but the Queens saved the match with a timely challenge to make the game 24-23. The Dolphins responded, though, forcing a Queens error to take the first match of conference play. 

Coach's Comments
"I'm grateful for our first conference win," head coach Alicia Manguiat said. "That was a good Queens team that was able to push us. But I am proud of how we responded after Set 3 and got the win."

Game Notes

• This is Jacksonville's first win in the conference opener since a 3-0 win over Stetson on 9/23/22.
• Manguiat is now 11-6 in ASUN play since taking over a season ago.
• The Dolphins had four different players record double-digit kills: McDonough, Mrukowski, Novak and junior Rebekah Williams.
• Jacksonville hit better than .250 for the eighth time this season.
• Senior libero Kristina Nika recorded 20 digs. She has 20-plus digs in three of her last four matches.

Up Next
Jacksonville will travel south to face the West Georgia Wolves in a Sunday matinee. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.