JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins pushed their unbeaten streak to four matches with a sweep of crosstown rivals North Florida in the first River City Rumble of 2025. The Dolphins (12-3, 3-0 ASUN) are undefeated against UNF under head coach Alicia Manguiat.
Jacksonville was led by senior Breanna McDonough. She recorded 13 kills, a season-high for a three-set match. She hit .407, her second-straight matching hitting north of .400. She also totaled three blocks.
How It Happened
Set 1
Jacksonville stayed on the front foot early, taking a 5-2 lead. The Dolphins nearly doubled-up the Ospreys, 11-6, with a pair of UNF errors. McDonough punctuated a rapid 4-0 run for JU to put the 'Phins up 15-7 at the first media timeout.
North Florida roared back, taking 13 of the next 17 points to retake the lead, 20-19. Jacksonville dialed in to close out the set, though. Junior Claire Mrukowski ended the run with a kill, then three-straight UNF errors gave JU a three-point lead.
Junior Rebekah Williams notched a kill to put the Dolphins on set point, and sophomore Haley Yount towered over the net to block away the ball and secure the first set.
Set 2
The Ospreys took the early lead in set two, but Jacksonville was right behind the whole way. Williams cut the lead to 10-9, but UNF ripped off four-straight to take a five-point advantage. JU took five of seven points soon after to cut the deficit to two.
Two Osprey errors tied the match at 18. A kill from junior Jade Cuya Cobos and another UNF error put the Dolphins back in front. North Florida answered to tie the match, but Jacksonville took four-straight points to clinch set point.
It was Williams again to close it out, powering past another kill to give Set Two to the 'Phins.
Set 3
Jacksonville went out on the front foot as it looked to close out the River City sweep. Two early kills from McDonough had the Dolphins up 6-3. UNF quickly erased the deficit and sent the game into a tense back and forth.
The Dolphins stole the momentum, taking six of eight points, culminating in another McDonough kill to take a 14-9 lead. The Ospreys cut the lead to one, but four points from the Dolphins later, they were two away from a sweep.
Williams put JU on match point, and the Jacksonville block finished things out. Yount and Mrukowski towered over the right side of the net and sent the ball back across court to the roar of the Swisher Gymnasium crowd.
Match Notes
- The Dolphins have won nine of their last ten sets against the Ospreys.
- Jacksonville has dropped one set through three ASUN games.
- Five players scored at least two kills per set.
- JU outscored UNF 58-48 for the match.
Up Next
The Dolphins will face the North Alabama Lions Saturday in an early ASUN heavyweight clash. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.