CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins are back in the win column after a five-set (23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 28-26, 15-9) win over the Queens Royals Sunday afternoon. JU has now won seven-straight matches against Queens and all but one match in series history.
Senior setter
Jade Cuya Cobos helped lead the Dolphins to victory with the most productive match of her career. She led the team with 36 assists and 23 digs, both comfortably career highs to spark the JU win.
Freshman
Jaylyn Tuiasosopo and sophomore
Kathryn Adler led the offense with 12 kills each.
Set One
The first set was as close as could be. The offense was flowing early, with both teams hitting over .300 in the opener. Three Dolphins recorded at least three kills, including sophomore
Addison Krieger who's powerful blast from the middle put JU up 19-18 late in the set.
Tuyo scored an ace to put the 'Phins up 22-21, but Queens won four of the final five points to take the first set.
Set Two
Jacksonville pulled ahead early in the second set looking to tie the match at one set apiece. With the score tied at five, the Dolphins took seven of the next eight points. After the Royals one a point back, Jacksonville survived a long rally with the first of back-to-back blocks heading into the technical timeout.
The Dolphins led by as many as eight points late into the set, taking control of the set. Queens cut the lead to four when Adler floated an off-speed shot over the front line to put JU on set point.
After the Royals cut one point back, Adler was the finisher, putting a shot past the hosts to give the set to Jacksonville.
Set Three
The Royals got out front early, leading 15-8 at the technical timeout. Facing a late set point, 24-16, Jacksonville ripped off three points in a row before Queens closed out the set to take the match lead.
Set Four
Neither team led by more than two points early in the fourth set. The Dolphins got active with their block early, taking a 9-8 lead with a big block from the left side of the front row.
Queens was the first team to pull ahead late in the set, leading 19-16. A block and two Royals errors later, the score was tied. As the teams traded points late, Tuiasosopo ripped a free ball to tie the score at 21.
The hosts reached set point and match point, but Tuiasosopo kept JU going. The set moved into extra points as the teams fended off set points. Junior
Haley Yount rose high to hammer home a kill and put the 'Phins on set point. After a loose pass off the serve, Yount smashed the free ball to force a fifth set.
Set Five
Jacksonville jumped out to the lead in the decisive set. Tuiasosopo and Adler notched kills, then Yount rose high for back-to-back blocks to set the tone in Set Five. Queens couldn't handle a ball from Cuya Cobos, forcing a Royals timeout with JU leading 8-4.
Senior
Alija Heins was Jacksonville's ace in the hole from the service line late. She scored back-to-back service aces to put the Dolphins on set point. That set up a match-winning 12th kill of the day from Adler to send JU back home with a victory.
Match Notes
- This was Jacksonville's first five-set win of the season and the sixth under head coach Alicia Manguiat.
- Adler tied her season and career-high in kills.
- Cuya Cobos's 36 assists are the most by a JU player since Emily Hodson against Stetson on Nov. 14, 2024.
- Freshman libero Selah Simien set a new career high with 17 digs.
- Krieger finished with double-digit kills (10) for the first time in her career.
- Yount finished with eight total blocks (seven assists, one solo). She has eight total blocks in back-to-back ASUN matches.
Head Coach Alicia Manguiat
"It wasn't the prettiest win, but I'm proud of the fight we found at the end. Jade stepped up and set a great match. Jaylyn also came through in some big moments. Glad to be heading home with a win and looking forward to next weekend at home!"
Up Next
The Dolphins return home for the first time since Sept. 26. Jacksonville hosts the FGCU Eagles Friday night at 6 PM.
