The Jacksonville University Dolphins controlled the service game and kept numerous points alive with their defense as they defeated Seattle University, 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16) Friday night at Swisher Gymnasium.
Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led with 14 kills and a .244 hitting percentage, while Jordan Keller (, ) earned seven kills and six blocks, Janet Beckerman (, ) collected seven kills and four blocks, and Libby Graff () finished with five kills, nine digs, and five blocks. Jamie Mellies (, ) posted 33 assists and six digs, and Shelly Anderson () led the Redhawks with 19 defensive digs.
The Dolphins set the tone right from the opening set, as Ashley August notched two straight service aces to open the match. extended the lead with an 8-1 run thanks in part to four straight aces by Brittany Lehman, and then closed out the set with back-to-back kills by Sara Bendorf.
Seattle University made only two attack errors in the second set, but six more Dolphin aces allowed the home team to take a 19-12 lead. Down 24-17, the Redhawks scored four straight points before closed out the second set with a Bendorf kill to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
In the third set, went on a 5-1 run midway through the set to take a 15-11 lead and force to call timeout. The Dolphins scored the next four points to tie the set 15-15, but Jessica Gunderson () notched consecutive kills as the Redhawks regained the lead, 18-15. Three Bendorf kills allowed the Dolphins to close the margin to 24-23, but forced another set with a kill by Richards.
The Redhawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set, but three straight attack errors immediately allowed back into the set. Down 8-7, the Dolphins scored seven unanswered points to take the lead for good, with four kills from Bendorf leading a 7-3 run that finished off the set and the match in ’s favor.
(12-6) was paced by Bendorf’s 17 kills, three aces, and 12 digs, with Aidan Yeager contributing 11 kills and six total blocks. Brooke Singleton earned seven kills, four aces, 12 digs, and two blocks, while libero Shelley Walroth added three aces and a match-high 34 digs to the winning effort. As a team, had 19 service aces and 77 digs, ahead of ’s three aces and 50 digs.
(7-14) will need to regroup quickly as it faces Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, beginning at 3 p.m. local time. The team will then head to to go against Sunday morning, Oct. 19, starting at 11 a.m. local time.