JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins head north this weekend for their third tournament of non-conference play at the Panther Challenge. The tournament is hosted by the Pitt Panthers, marking the second year in a row the Dolphins have made the trip up to Western Pennsylvania.

JU has deep ties to the Pitt program, with head coach Alicia Manguiat and associate head coach Peter Manguiat both having served on staff for Panthers head coach Dan Fisher.

Last weekend, Jacksonville battled to a 1-2 weekend at the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency. JU fell to Coastal Carolina and UConn before sweeping the Florida A&M Rattlers in the tournament finale.

No. 2 Pittsburgh | Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 PM | ACCNX
Record: 7-0
Head Coach: Dan Fisher (14th Season)
Players To Watch: Olivia Babcock, Izzy Starck

The Panthers are one of the best teams in the country, currently sitting No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Poll after a 7-0 start to the season. Pittsburgh has become one of the preeminent programs in the country, making five-straight Final Fours and winning four-straight ACC Championships.

Pitt will be the highest-ranked opponent the Dolphins have ever faced. Last year, Jacksonville picked up its first set victory ever against a Top 10 team, ultimately losing in four sets to the then ninth-ranked Panthers.

Wright State Raiders | Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 PM | ESPN+
Record: 3-3
Head Coach: Travers Green (5th Season)
Players To Watch: Mya Ayro, Katie Sowko

The Raiders are one of the strongest mid-majors in the country, winning the Horizon League last year and being picked first again in the league's preseason poll. Wright State has won their conference and reached the NCAA Tournament three times in four seasons under head coach Travers Green.

Senior Mya Ayro and junior Katie Sowko lead the line for the Raiders, averaging 4.0 and 3.27 kills per set respectively. 

High Point Panthers | Sunday, Sept. 13 at 11 AM | ESPN+
Record: 3-2
Head Coach: Ryan Meek (9th Season)
Players To Watch: Elodie Lalonde, Remy Catojo

Another team who made the NCAA Tournament a season ago, High Point has cemented itself as the cream of the crop in the Big South Conference. The Panthers have won four conference championships in a row dating back to 2022.

High Point boasts the preseason Big South Player of the Year in hitter Elodie Lalonde and the preseason Setter of the Year in Remy Catojo. The Dolphins are 0-2 against the Panthers all time, losing matches in 2018 and 2019.