JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- In one of their closest matches of the season, the Jacksonville Dolphins fell in five sets (22-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 12-15) to the FGCU Eagles. The total score for the match was razor thin, with FGCU winning the point total 112-108.
The Dolphins were led by a balanced offensive effort. Three different players hit double figures for kills, led by freshman
Jaylyn Tuiasosopo's 13.Â
Set One
From the time JU tied the set at eight, neither team led by more than three the rest of the set. Tuiasosopo led the way for the Dolphins offense early, notching four kills on 14 swings in the first set.
The Jacksonville block was jumping from the start, tallying five team blocks in the opening game. The Dolphins led 22-20 late in the set, but five-straight from the Eagles won the day for the visitors in the opener.
Set Two
The second set was just as close, with no side leading by more than four the entire game. Graduate student
Abbie Tuyo got red hot in the second, scoring six kills on 10 swings to pace the JU offense.
Junior
Haley Yount started to heat up as well, scoring four kills on just five attempts. The Dolphins led late again, 24-23, but FGCU flipped the script in the final points to winÂ
Set Three
In the third set, Jacksonville finally turned its strong play into results. A perfect three-for-three from Yount and four kills in five from senior
Claire Mrukowski helped the Dolphins jump ahead in the third.
A service error gave FGCU a 23-22 lead, but JU found the resolve to grind out the win. Tuyo recorded a kill, then sophomore
Addison Krieger and senior
Jade Cuya Cobos combined to send back a shot. Another kill from Tuyo was the cherry on top to close out the set, 25-23.
Set Four
Cuya Cobos and Krieger joined for another block to put the Dolphins up 20-17 late in the set, one of three JU blocks in the fourth. In clutch time, Jacksonville turned to Yount for big points. She ripped back-to-back kills to 'Phins up three late in the set.
Three-straight points from FGCU tied the set at 22. Two points later, the teams were tied at 23. The freshman Tuiasosopo was the closer for Jacksonville, scoring back-to-back kills to send JU to a fifth set and on the brink of the reverse sweep.
Set Five
The Eagles jumped to a 4-0 lead in the decisive set, but the Dolphins had three in a row of their own to make it a competitive ballgame. Tuiasosopo capped off a 3-0 run to give Jacksonville the 8-7 lead at the midway point of the set.
The Dolphins trailed 14-11 late in the game. Tuyo answered one back on set point, but FGCU closed out the match, 15-12.
Match Notes
- JU finished with 17 total blocks, its most since 17 against Queens in 2022.
- Krieger recorded 12 total blocks (two solo, 10 assists), the most by a Dolphin this decade.
- Yount finished with 12 kills, a new season high.
- Cuya Cobos finished with 35 assists. She's the first JU setter with back-to-back 30 assist matches since Emily Hodson at the end of the 2024 season.
- Tuyo recorded a 12-kill, 13-dig double-double. She has recorded a double-double in four of her last five matches.
Up Next
The Dolphins are back tomorrow night against the Stetson Hatters. First serve is scheduled for 6 PM.
