JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Jacksonville volleyball moved back into the win column, as the Dolphins defended their home field with a 3-2 five-set win (25-13, 17-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7) over the Stetson Hatters.
The Dolphins were led by graduate student
Abbie Tuyo's 19-kill, 19-dig double-double. Senior setter
Jade Cuya Cobos had a strong showing as well, recording 58 assists — the most by a Jacksonville setter since 2022.
Set One
JU jumped all over the Hatters in the opening set. The Dolphins hit .467 as a team in the first, their highest single-set hitting percentage in the match. Tuyo (five kills) and freshman
Jaylyn Tuiasosopo (four kills) were the early scorers for Jacksonville.
The Dolphins led by 11 late, 23-12. Tuyo ripped a kill to reach set point, then Tuiasosopo closed it out with another, 25-13.
Set Two
Despite six kills on nine swings from senior
Claire Mrukowski, Jacksonville struggled to find its form in the second set. Stetson led by as many as eight late, closing the game with a block to win the set, 25-17.
Set Three
The Dolphins had a balanced, spread offense in the third to fuel a set win. Four players recorded at least three kills. Sophomore
Zoey Vandel led the way, smashing her career high with four kills in the set.
The third was the closest set of the night. The Dolphins led by four, 22-18, but Stetson cut the deficit down to two with a quick run. Vandal closed out a standout set with the winning kill off an out-of-system assist from Mrukowski.
Set Four
The Hatters pulled away in the fourth set to force a tiebreak fifth. Stetson led by eight late in the game, leading 23-15. The Dolphins tried to pull off a late rally, taking four points in a row to make it 24-19. However, Stetson closed it out with a final kill to take the match the distance.
Set Five
In the fifth, Jacksonville's offense rounded back into form. JU hit .350 as a team, with Tuyo notching a team-best four kills. Facing a one-point lead, 5-4, the Dolphins raced to the finish line the rest of the way.
JU scored 10 of the final 13 points in the fifth set to secure the set win in decisive fashion.
Match Notes
- Vandel finished with 12 kills, smashing her previous career high. She also hit .375 on the day.
- Four players finished with double-digit kills for the Dolphins. Three players finished with double-digit digs.
- Tuyo has double-doubles in five of her last six matches.
- Cuya Cobos's 11.6 assists per set are a new career high.
Head Coach Alicia Manguiat
Opening Statement
"We had a very spread offense. Abbie with 19, Claire with 16, Haley with 10, Zoey with 12. I was proud of Zoe for stepping up. We asked her to take a bigger role for us tonight, and she really impressed for us.
Defensively, I think that's where we need to improve. We knew kind of what they were going to do and we weren't able to execute as often as I'd like. But we made the plays we needed to make in the end, and Set Five was better for us.:
On Cuya Cobos
"Jade's doing a really good job setting a 5-1, and just being a consistent piece. We have a lot of faith in Jade."
On four-game home stand
"I'm glad that we're home and have another home weekend again. There's a lot we can look at and get better from in practice this week."
Up Next
The Dolphins stay in their own gym another week as they host the Queens Royals next Friday, Oct. 23. Opening serve is scheduled for 6 PM.
