Date Posted: 11/16/2007

MACON, Ga. – Jacksonville moved to the championship round of the Atlantic Sun Volleyball Tournament for the third time in the last four years with a 30-25, 27-30, 34-32, 30-25 semifinal victory over second-seeded ETSU Friday evening. The Dolphins eliminate the Lady Bucs for the second consecutive season.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Jacksonville head coach Shaun Kupferberg. “Those are the matches we train for all year. It’s all about the end of the year, and it’s all about playing teams that are great. It’s not about playing teams that are easy to beat; it’s about playing tough opponents, and ETSU is an amazing team.

Jacksonville’s Kesley Clark notched nine kills in the pivotal third game as the Dolphins rallied from an early 8-3 deficit for the 34-32 victory, taking a 2-1 lead. The frame featured eight ties and three lead changes, as both squads earned game points before JU clinched the stanza on its fourth opportunity.

In the match’s decisive game, the Dolphins jumped out to a 10-3 lead before ETSU fought back with a 10-3 run of its own, knotting the affair at 13. Jacksonville responded, pulling away for the five-point victory, punching its ticket to the title match for the second straight season.

The Lady Bucs (19-13) jumped out to a 6-2 opening game lead, but following a timeout, the Dolphins erased the deficit with a 4-0 run, and steadily pulled away claiming the 1-0 match lead, 30-25. All-Atlantic Sun selection Sara Bendorf and All-Freshman honoree Abby Gruenbacher led the JU attack with five kills apiece, with Gruenbacher amassing her totals on just seven attacks for a mammoth .714 hitting percentage.

Bendorf led the Dolphins with 21 kills, followed by Clark and Gruenbacher with 14 apiece. Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team selection Hannah Munneke again directed the Dolphins attack, dishing out 60 assists. ETSU’s own All-Freshman honoree Desirée Dyck accumulated a team-high 21 kills on the night.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Related Links:
 • Championship Coverage