DELAND, Fla. — Stetson volleyball earned a five-set victory over Jacksonville Friday night at Insight Credit Union Arena, taking the match 3-2 by scores of 25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25 and 15-10. The Hatters finished with a season-high 90 digs, 60 kills and a .238 hitting percentage while recording a 15-5 advantage in total blocks.
Stetson was led offensively by
Zuzanna Bury, who posted season highs with 24 kills and 16 digs to record her first double-double of the season.
Vanessa Shevchenko directed the offense with 40 assists and added 13 digs, surpassing 500 career assists.
Kayla Balfour added a career-high 14 kills and 18 points while recording six blocks, extending her streak to five consecutive matches with at least four blocks.
Sofia Torcello contributed seven kills and a career-high-tying seven blocks, reaching 101 career kills and 54 total blocks.
The Hatters established early control in the opening set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead behind two Bury kills, a
Vitoria Stedile service ace and a block from Shevchenko and Balfour. Jacksonville fought back to take a 15-13 advantage, but Stetson responded with a strong stretch at the net. Two Torcello kills, a block from
Soraya Teston and Torcello, and another Teston kill helped the Hatters regain the lead at 18-16. Bury and Balfour added key kills down the stretch as Stetson held on for a 25-22 opening-set win.
Stetson carried that momentum into the second set. After the teams played to a 9-9 tie, the Hatters won seven of the next eight points to build a 16-10 advantage. Bury delivered three kills during the run, while Shevchenko added a service ace and Torcello helped provide a presence at the net. The Hatters maintained their lead with contributions throughout the lineup, including a block from Balfour and Shevchenko that made it 23-16. Shevchenko capped the set with another block as Stetson claimed a 25-17 win and a 2-0 match advantage.
Jacksonville responded in the third set, but the Hatters continued to put together key stretches. Back-to-back service aces from Torcello helped Stetson move ahead 9-6, while kills from Balfour and a block assist helped extend the lead to 12-8. The Hatters later regained a 20-19 advantage on a Balfour kill after a block from Balfour and Teston. Stetson kept the set even late, tying the score at 23-23 on a Bury kill, but Jacksonville scored the final two points to take the set 25-23.
The fourth set featured another competitive stretch, with Stetson moving in front 13-12 on a Jacksonville attack error. The Hatters continued to find contributions across the lineup, including a block from Bury and Torcello and a series of kills from Torcello, Balfour and Bury. Consecutive Bury kills brought Stetson within one at 22-21, and the Hatters later fought off a pair of set points to close the gap to 24-23. Jacksonville managed the final point to even the match at two sets apiece.
In the deciding set, Stetson found its rhythm early and delivered when it mattered most. Balfour opened with back-to-back kills off Shevchenko assists, while Bury added another kill to put the Hatters back in front after an early tie. After Jacksonville evened the score at 7-7, Balfour and
Andrea Diaz Dominguez helped Stetson create separation, with Diaz Dominguez adding two kills during the stretch to give the Hatters a 12-8 advantage. Maia Keely Pou answered a Jacksonville point with a kill, and Stedile followed with a service ace. The Hatters closed out the match by scoring the final three points to secure the 15-10 fifth-set victory.
Hatters Top Performers
- Zuzanna Bury: Team-high 24 kills and 16 digs for her first double-double of the season; team-high 25.5 points and three blocks
- Vanessa Shevchenko: 40 assists, 13 digs, three blocks, including one solo, and one service ace; surpassed 500 career assists
- Vitoria Stedile: Team-high 21 digs, five assists and two service aces
- Kayla Balfour: Career-high 14 kills, six total blocks, including two solo, and a career-high 18 points
- Sofia Torcello: Seven kills, seven total blocks, including two solo, three service aces; reached 100 career kills and 50 career blocks
Up Next
Stetson returns to the court Sunday, Nov. 1, hosting North Florida at 1 p.m. at Insight Credit Union Arena at the Edmunds Center in DeLand, Florida.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
