Next Match:
vs. UNC Asheville
8/30/2025 | 1:30 PM ET
Aug. 30 (Sat) / 1:30 PM ET
vs. UNC Asheville
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Jacksonville Dolphins dropped their second match of the season to the Alabama Crimson Tide, 3-1. The Dolphins are now 1-1 in the Crimson Tide Invitational.
Sophomore middle blocker Haley Yount starred for the second-straight contest. She racked up a team-high 12 kills, her second-straight match leading the team. Yount also collected a game-high eight blocks.
How It Happened
Set 1
The Dolphins were ready for the test against the Crimson Tide in the opening set. Alabama hit well, but Jacksonville put on a strong defensive showing. The Dolphins put up four blocks and 10 digs in the first to set the tone defensively.
Yount took over midway through the set, recording five kills and being a part of all four JU blocks.
The Crimson Tide outlasted Jacksonville to take the first set 25-21.
Set 2
JU was on the front foot in the second set, taking a quick 3-1 lead. The tide continued to swing in the Dolphins’ favor, holding the lead throughout the set until taking an 18-14 advantage.
Yount continued to dominate the middle of the court, rising above the net for blocks and hammering quick kills to put the ‘Phins on the board.
Junior Claire Mrukowski ripped a left-handed hammer into the floor to put the Dolphins up 20-16. An Alabama service error and a Williams ace brought Jacksonville within three points of a second set victory.
The Crimson Tide put a serve in the net to pull JU one point closer. Yount smashed a thundering ball into the center of Alabama’s court to put the Dolphins on set point.
With a chance to close out set two, who else but senior captain Bre McDonnough to put the winning kill over the net and off a Crimson Tide blocker to clinch the set win.
Set 3
Alabama raced to an early lead in the third. The Crimson Tide went up 11-5 before the Dolphins’ block returned for a key point to stop the hosts’ run. Jacksonville made it three points on the trot to cut Alabama’s lead to three, but the Tide responded.
The Dolphins trailed by seven through most of the middle of the set, but the likes of Mrukowski and Yount made key plays to keep Jacksonville alive. Williams laced a kill to the far corner and junior Alijah Heins slipped a ball through the Tide to cut the lead down to five, 22-17.
Despite the Dolphins’ fight to get back into it late, Alabama closed out the third, 25-20.
Set 4
Jacksonville gave its all to fight to a deciding fifth set. The Tide went up 7-1, but the Dolphins rallied behind Mrukowski’s strong showing on the serve, with an ace cutting the lead to two. The Tide pulled ahead, but Jacksonville trailed just behind.
With Alabama pulling away, Yount chipped a kill over the front line to cut the score to 17-12. McDonough shot a kill through the heart of the defense for her ninth of the night to keep the deficit at five, 19-14.
The Crimson Tide closed out the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth.
Game Notes
- Yount recorded double-digit kills in consecutive games for the first time in her career.
- McDonough recorded 10 kills. The preseason All-ASUN honoree is averaging 2.44 kills per set through two matches.
- Senior libero Kristina Nika led the team with 11 digs.
Up Next
The Dolphins will close out their run in the Crimson Tide Invitational against UNC Asheville tomorrow, looking to leave the weekend with a winning record. First serve is slated for 1:30 p.m. EST.