Next Match:
at Bethune-Cookman University
9/13/2025 | 1:30 PM ET
YouTube
Sep. 13 (Sat) / 1:30 PM ET
at Bethune-Cookman University
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Jacksonville volleyball team roared past the South Carolina State Bulldogs, 3-0, Friday afternoon in the Bash at the Beach. The Dolphins finished the day 2-0 in the tournament, defeating the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in four sets earlier in the day.
JU’s 6-2 start is the program’s best eight-game start to a season since 2013. That season, the Dolphins went 30-4 and won the ASUN after starting the season 8-0.
Senior Breanna McDonough and junior Rebekah Williams led the way for Jacksonville. They both tallied 11 kills and hit north of .500, with Williams hitting a season-best .667.
How It Happened
Set 1
JU was in pole position from the opening points of the first set. The Dolphins scored the first seven points of the match, with grad student Madi Novak and McDonough trading kills. Jacksonville took 10 of the first 12 points in the set and held a healthy lead throughout the early stages. The Bulldogs found an answer, though, pulling the match within three, 17-14. The Dolphins regained their breathing room late in the set.
Sophomore Haley Yount rose high in the middle of the floor and crushed the ball to make the score 22-19. After a Bulldogs kill and ensuing service error, Novak notched another kill to put JU on set point. On the ensuing point, senior Lydia Mesusan lifted the ball over the net, and South Carolina State couldn’t control it, leading to a set-sealing attack error, 25-20.
Set 2
After a back-and-forth opening stanza, junior Claire Mrukowski ripped a shot off a back row player to put JU up 10-7. Alija Heins thundered home a kill to give the Dolphins a 15-10 lead. Jacksonville kept its foot on the gas, and a service error put JU up 20-11. Junior setter Jade Cuya Cobos pushed a ball up to the left side from her knees, where junior Rebekah Williams hammered the ball down the line to put the Dolphins on set point. A service error from the Bulldogs put the set away, 25-15.
Set 3
Jacksonville looked to close out the match in three, and it started by winning four of the first five points to go up 4-1. The Bulldog errors and Dolphin kills started to stack up in the first half of the set, as JU took a 17-10 lead. Novak and McDonough both scored kills, and Novak put an nonreturnable serve over the net to put Jacksonville on 20 points. McDonough found the hole in the defense to put JU on match point. An attack error on the other end gave the Dolphins the sweep.
Coach’s Comments
Today was a good day for JU Volleyball. We learned a lot of new lessons and fought through some new adversities,” head coach Alicia Manguiat said. “I’m proud of the way we handled ourselves, but we still have a lot to work on. Tonight we will rest and recover, with one more challenge to prepare for tomorrow.”
Game Notes
- The Dolphins have swept four of its eight opponents this season. Jacksonville has won 20 of 29 sets played this year (68.9%).
- JU had 44 digs to the Bulldogs 29, with senior Kristina Nika leading the way with 13.
- Yount finished with six kills and a .500 hitting percentage. She’s had at least five kills and hit at least .500 in four games this season.
- Graduate student setter Bella Dearinger recorded 25 assists, her third match with at least 25 assists this season.
Up Next
Jacksonville will close out its run at the Bash at the Beach Tournament against hosts Bethune-Cookman Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. The match will be streamed on the Wildcats YouTube page.