DeLand, Fla. ? The Stetson volleyball team (2-15, 0-10 Atlantic Sun) battled hard against conference rival Jacksonville (11-6, 7-3 A-Sun) Saturday evening at the Edmunds Center but ultimately fell in three sets, 25-20, 25-10, 27-25. Junior middle blocker Laura Boyd (La Crescenta, Calif.) had seven kills, four blocks and hit .375 as the Hatters suffered their sixth consecutive defeat and 10th in a row to the Dolphins.
Stetson head coach Cheryl Carlson switched up her lineup early in the match, bringing on sophomore setter Megan Stewart (St. Augustine, Fla.) for her first sustained action of the season. She acquitted herself very well, recording six assists, six digs, a kill and a block assist. Primary setter Jennica Hagberg (Niceville, Fla.), a freshman, handed out seven assists and collected seven digs of her own. Senior outside hitter Rebecca Orzechowicz (Miami, Fla.) finished with 10 digs and five kills, reaching double figures in digs for the fifth time in 2008.
Outside hitter Sara Bendorf paced Jacksonville with 16 kills and a .324 attack percentage while Aidan Yeager added 12 kills of her own. Ashley August recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 12 digs.
The Hatters bounced back from a blowout loss in the second set to control the run of play in the third set most of the way, leading by as many as six points and as late as 19-13. Even after JU went on a 7-1 run to tie the score at 20, Stetson pushed ahead again by two and forced the action beyond 25 points apiece, but an extension to four sets simply was not in the cards today.
Stetson continues its four-match homestand next weekend against the Nashville pair of Belmont and Lipscomb. The Hatters face the Bruins at 6 p.m. this Friday and the Lady Bisons at 3 p.m. Saturday. Hatter Vision will broadcast both matches with Bill Topping providing commentary; live stats will also be available for both matches. All this is available at www.GoHatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
