The UCA volleyball team (12-7, 4-2 ASUN) continued a four-run winning streak in the ASUN Conference after defeating Jacksonville University (8-10, 2-4 ASUN) 3-1, Oct. 8 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Kendall Haywood, graduate student and middle blocker, said, “I feel this win was definitely a confidence boost and was able to show us what we’re made of.”
The Sugar Bears lost the first set, but were playing back and forth with the Dolphins until they took the lead at 15-14.
“[Jacksonville] had less error runs and were able to finish the long rallies,” Macy Blackburn, junior middle blocker and outside hitter, said. “We were point for point until the end, and every point counts.”
Due to a series of attack errors from freshman setter Caylan Koons, sophomore outside hitter Jamiryana Hall, sophomore right-side hitter Mackenzie Vernon and Haywood, Jacksonville gained on UCA, bringing the final score in the first set to 25-19.
Coming off of a set loss, the Sugar Bears made a comeback in the second set with a strong start. Coach John Newberry changed the line up to a 6-2, an offensive system where two setters are opposite from one another.
“I’d say a team highlight would be our ability to fight and keep passion after losing the set,” Blackburn said, “We kept working hard and never gave up. We also were able to adapt by changing the lineup to a 6-2.”
With kills from Haywood, Vernon and Hall, UCA gained a 5-point lead at the beginning of the set against Jacksonville. The Sugar Bears maintained the lead and ended the second set 25-16, which set the tone for the rest of the match.
“There was for sure a lot of fight to get this win … I think us middles did a great job with the offense,” Haywood said.
Haywood had 12 kills during the entire match and made 7 kills in the second set. She also led the team with 16 points and led with the highest attack percentage at 0.455%. Blackburn followed in attack percentage behind Haywood at 0.389%.
Haywood led the team with five blocks, while Blackburn followed with four blocks. Haywood attributed her blocking success to the “intensity of our team and the energy.”
Vernon was a consistent player in each set. She led the Sugar Bears with 13 kills — four in the first set, two in the second set, one in the third set and six in the fourth set.
Haywood said Koons was a highlight of the game because of her “serving runs and helping us get Jacksonville out of system.”
Although the Sugar Bears were down 7-4 at the beginning of the third set, they made yet another comeback. Senior outside hitter Alexis Stumbough made five kills in the third set and 12 in the match overall.
Koons, who led the team in 31 assists, also led the team with three aces, two of which were made in the third set. The Sugar Bears ended the third set 25-20.
Riddled with attack errors from Jacksonville and Vernon’s kills, the final set ended in favor of the Sugar Bears. Attack errors from Jacksonville’s junior setter Rebecca Rocassin, and junior middle blocker Lyric Love finished the match, leading the Sugar Bears to success, 25-16.
“This weekend was a big growing point for the team — not just on the court but off,” Blackburn said. “When on the court, we were all cheering each other on and locked in. Off the court, we grew closer with team bonding, which was super fun.”
The Sugar Bears will take on Florida Gulf Coast University at the Prince Center Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. for their Pink Out game in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.