PITTSBURGH, Pa. --- The Jacksonville volleyball team defeated the Pepperdine Waves in straight-sets. The Dolphins (4-1) are off to their best five-match start since 2017.

Juniors Rebekah Williams and Claire Mrukowski led the way with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. The match was a tightly contested battle throughout, with JU winning the overall scoring difference 78-69.

How It Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville came out firing in the opening set. Neither side pulled ahead in the early goings, and the squads were tied at 14.

At that point, the Dolphins went on a 4-0 run, capped by a Williams service ace. That burst of scoring put Jacksonville on the front foot the rest of the way. Mrukoski ripped a shot to put JU up 20-15.

The Dolphins reached set point off a Pepperdine attack error, and senior captain Bre McDonnough iced the game with a kill to give JU the set victory, 25-22.

Set 2
The Waves took the early edge in set two, but the 'Phins were right behind. Mrukowski laced a lefty shot to the far side of the court to tie the game at eight. A quick JU run gave it a three-point lead, but Pepperdine answered to tie the game at 12.

Jacksonville finally pulled ahead with a 4-0 run capped by an emphatic kill from sophomore Haley Yount. Mrukowski hit a kill into a block error to put the Dolphins 20th point on the board. The Waves answered, though, and tied the game at 23.

Graduate student Madi Novak slapped a ball into the open floor to put JU on set point, but Pepperdine had an answer. Williams scored the next kill, putting the 'Phins a point away from a second-set win, but Pepperdine matched once again.

After another series of traded points, Yount slipped a kill over the net. On their third set point, Williams scored a service ace to put the Dolphins up two games.

Set 3
The third set was another highly competitive bout, with neither side pulling ahead through the first 10 points. Jacksonville found another quick run to pull ahead, though, and JU took a 13-10 lead.

The Waves scored a pair, but Novak put a kill on the board to get the 'Phins to 15. Jacksonville kept its foot on the gas, with Heins and Williams combining for a block to put Jacksonville up 18-13 and force a Pepperdine timeout. 

The Dolphins extended up to seven after another Williams kill, 22-15. After a Waves run cut the lead to three, a service error put JU two points away from a sweep. Williams put the Dolphins on set point, rifling a kill of a back-row assist from senior Jade Cuya Cobos.

Mrukoswki capped her dynamic night with the match-winning kill, finding the empty floor on the Waves court to put the match away, 25-21.

Game Notes

• This is the first time JU's swept three-consecutive opponents since 2014.
• Williams has recorded at least 10 kills and hit at least .500 in back-to-back games.
• Senior Kristina Nika once again led the team in digs with 15, a new season-high.

Coach's Comments
"I couldn't be prouder of how this team played," head coach Alicia Manguiat said. "They brought electric energy and stayed connected through all three sets. This was a true team win — every player contributed, and the bench energy was phenomenal. It was a hard fought match against a good Pepperdine team, who is always at the top of their conference."

Up Next
The Dolphins will close their weekend in Pennsylvania with a marquee matinee against the No. 9 Pitt Panthers. The match will start at 1 p.m. and will be streaming on ACCNX.