Beckerman collected 15 kills in 25 attempts and made only two attack errors for a career-high hitting percentage of .520. Once again, Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led the Redhawks with 19 kills, becoming the second player in school history to earn at least 400 kills in a single season, plus she had eight digs and five block assists. Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) contributed 11 kills, three service aces, seven digs, and three block assists, and Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) increased her single-season record total of blocks with five block assists to go along with seven kills.
"Jacksonville is a strong team, much better than their record shows. It was a battle all the way, and I'm proud of our team for sticking to the game plan and staying true to what we do," head coach Shannon Ellis said. "Janet had another great night. Hopefully we can play well again tomorrow even with the fast turnaround."
In the first set, after Jacksonville committed an attack error, Beckerman posted back-to-back kills to give Seattle U a 7-4 lead. Jacksonville went on a 5-1 run to pull ahead before consecutive kills by Jaeckel gave the Redhawks the lead back. Down 20-19, Seattle U received consecutive kills from Richards, a service ace by Jaeckel, back-to-back blocks, and a Dolphin attack error to clinch the opening set.
The second set was just as close, with the lead seesawing back and forth until a 4-0 run put the Redhawks ahead, 17-14. Jacksonville closed to within one at 21-20 on consecutive kills by Brittany Lehman, but Richards collected back-to-back kills, and Keller rebounded from getting an attempt blocked by converting on her next attack attempt to give Seattle U a 2-0 match lead.
Jacksonville (12-12) won the first four points of the third set, but Seattle U recovered by winning five of the next six points to pull into a 5-5 tie. The Dolphins were ahead 13-10 before the Redhawks scored five unanswered points, but Jacksonville quickly pulled the set back into a tie. Seattle U held off one set point with a kill by Richards, but kills by Aidan Yeager and Alison Loeppky extended the match into the fourth set.
The Dolphins again took the early lead in the fourth set, scoring the first three points and extending out to a five-point lead at 14-9. A 7-1 scoring run by the Redhawks gave the visitors a 16-15 advantage, but the two teams started exchanging points and the lead once again. Seattle U had three chances to end the set and the match, but Jacksonville responded each time. After the Dolphins could not convert on their chance to win the set at 27-26, the Redhawks had two more chances snuffed out by kills from Lehman. Jaeckel and Richards finally ended the set and the contest with back-to-back kills.
Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) finished with one of her best matches of the season, collecting 52 assists, seven digs, and three block assists. Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) contributed five kills and a team-high six block assists. In the back, senior libero Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) again led the way for the Redhawks with a match-high 17 digs.
Lehman led the Dolphins with 20 kills and a .378 hitting percentage, plus she notched 10 digs. Yeager finished the match with 10 kills and five block assists, while Alliya Drzewiecki earned 10 kills and eight digs and Alyssa Robertson contributed six kills and six total blocks. Setter Kendall Courtney dished out 47 assists plus earned two service aces and 11 digs, and Ashley August led the squad from the back with 13 defensive digs.
Seattle University (12-12) will look to sweep this Florida road swing and extend its winning streak to four matches when it faces Stetson University Saturday, Oct. 23, beginning at 11 a.m. The Redhawks will then enjoy a 12-day break from competition before consecutive matches at Cal State Bakersfield, followed by another 12-day layoff before hosting the Independent Tournament Nov. 19-20 at the Connolly Center.