{"id":187821,"date":"2025-08-30T19:30:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T19:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/187821\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T19:30:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T19:30:12","slug":"novak-leads-ju-to-dominant-win-over-bulldogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/187821\/","title":{"rendered":"Novak Leads JU To Dominant Win Over Bulldogs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


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\n <\/p>\n

\"Mercyhurst<\/p>\n

Next Match:<\/p>\n

at Mercyhurst University<\/p>\n

9\/5\/2025 | 12:00 PM ET<\/p>\n


\n Sep. 05 (Fri) \/ 12:00 PM ET \n <\/p>\n

\"Mercyhurst<\/p>\n


\n at\u00a0Mercyhurst University \n <\/p>\n

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala.<\/strong> — The Jacksonville Dolphins defeated the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in straight sets, 3-0, in their final game of the Crimson Tide Invitational. JU will leave the tournament with a 2-1 record.<\/p>\n

The Dolphins were led by graduate student Madi Novak<\/a>, who had her best game yet in JU colors. She recorded a game-high 19 kills, hitting .344 on 32 total attacks.<\/p>\n

How It Happened<\/strong>

\nSet 1

\nJacksonville roared out to an early lead in the opening set. The Dolphins took an early 10-4 lead, with sophomore Haley Yount<\/a> and junior Rebekah Williams<\/a> leading the charge from Jacksonville’s front row. Asheville briefly broke the Dolphins run, but Novak ripped off three-straight kills to put JU back on the front foot.<\/p>\n

Another Novak kill and a Bulldogs error put Jacksonville on set point, 24-16. The Dolphins closed it out with their defense, as junior Alija Heins<\/a> and senior Breanna McDonough<\/a> blocked a hit at the net to win the set.<\/p>\n

Set 2

\nNovak continued her hot start into the second set, recording an early kill and a pair of aces to give JU a 5-3 lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs stayed in the fight, cutting the lead to one, 12-11, and eventually tying the game at 14. From that point though, Asheville hit a number of errors, putting Jacksonville out in front, 20-17.<\/p>\n

Novak’s dominant afternoon continued with her 10th and 11th kills, and Heins and McDonough combined for another block to put JU on set point. McDonough closed it out with a strong kill off an assist from grad student Bella Dearinger<\/a> to put the Dolphins up two sets.<\/p>\n

Set 3

\nThe Bulldogs came out scraping to avoid a sweep in the third, staying in front through the early proceedings. Heins gave Jacksonville its first two-point lead with a pair of kills, putting the ‘Phins up 9-7.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From that point, the Dolphins turned it on to close out the set and the match. Jacksonville took a commanding 14-8 lead, before Asheville crawled back into the game. Heins continued her strong weekend with a kill to give JU a 20-15 edge.<\/p>\n

Williams ripped her seventh kill of the night, and on her serve, aced it past the Bulldogs to close out the match, 25-21.<\/p>\n

Game Notes<\/strong>
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