GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins fell in three sets (18-25, 21-25, 13-25) to the No. 8 Florida Gators in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Wednesday night. This was the first time on record JU has faced two Top 10 opponents in one season.
The Dolphins (6-7) were led by graduate student
Abbie Tuyo. She led the team with nine kills, adding five digs, an ace and a block.Â
Set One
Jacksonville was ready for the challenge in the first set. The Dolphins punched early, trading the first points of the match. Tuyo was a force from the left side, ripping three kills in JU's first six points.
The Dolphins had the set tied at nine before the Gators started to pull away. Even as UF built its lead, Jacksonville kept in striking distance. A kill from junior
Haley Yount after a long rally cut the deficit to four, 22-18.
Florida would take the final three points of the set, though, closing out the opener.
Set Two
Jacksonville didn't back down after the hosts took set one. The Dolphins jumped out to a lead early in the second set. Tuyo notched another kill to put JU up 11-10 in the first part of the second game.
A Gator error put the Dolphins in the lead 15-14 at the technical timeout. JU led as late as 18-16 as Yount and freshman
Jaylyn Tuiasosopo rose up from the left side to block a ball. Florida would pull ahead late, and despite two late Dolphin points, take the four-point set win.
Set Three
The third started as another close battle. Jacksonville battled in the opening points, taking an 8-7 lead as freshman
Ana Nastase powered her fifth kill of the night off the Gator block.
Florida pulled away from that point on, closing out the match in three.
Match Notes
- Nastase recorded the second double-double of her career, tallying 13 assists and 10 digs --- both team highs. She also added five kills.
- Tuyo averaged 3.0 kills per set. She's averaged three or more kills per set in 10 matches this season.
- Yount finished one shy of her career high in digs, notching a season-best five.
Up Next
The Dolphins will open Atlantic Sun Conference play Saturday against the North Florida Ospreys in the River City Rumble. First serve is slated for 6 PM in Swisher Gymnasium.
