JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The LIU volleyball team had a dramatic first day at the Dolphin Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency Friday. The Sharks opened the day with a 3-1 loss to South Florida, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 27-25, but rallied in the evening matchup against host Jacksonville to win in dramatic fashion, 3-2 (30-32, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12).
 
GAME ONE
Facing off against South Florida in the first game of the day, the Sharks came out strong in the first set. A Solo block by Miranda Strongman gave the Sharks a 6-5 lead. It was back and forth from there, but another solo block by freshman Katie Berg gave LIU a 10-8 lead. The two teams were close from there, until LIU went on a 4-0 run to widen the lead to 19-13. Though the Bulls would make a late push, that lead gave the Sharks the room they needed, and not long after, kills from Barbora Hoskova and Allie Merz would give LIU 25-19 set one win.
 
In the second set, LIU jumped out to a 7-4 advantage, but USF would battle back to tie it up, 10-10. The two teams traded leads for the rest of the set, until the Bulls finished the set on a 5-2 run, taking the 25-21 win and tying the match up, 1-1. Set three saw South Florida go up early and stay there, taking a 25-16 win and the 2-1 match advantage.
 
In the fourth set, LIU went on a 7-0 run, including two aces from Hoskova, to take an 18-13 lead on USF.  The Sharks held on to that lead, and went up 21-16, before the Bulls came barreling back. USF used a 4-0 run to tie it up, and then did so again at 24-24 and 25-25. A solo block by USF gave them match point, and a kill ended it, 27-25 for the set win, and 3-1 in the match.
 
Senior Jovana Stekovic led Liu with 12 kills and 14 digs, while freshman Jordan Macdonald had 10 kills. Hoskova finished the day with four service aces. Sophomore setter Ainsley Malis had 19 assists and eight digs, while libero Anastasia Scott had 16 digs.
 
GAME TWO
Taking on the host school in the night cap, the second game of the day was dramatic from the start. The two teams went back and forth in the first set all the way through to the end, as Jacksonville took the 32-30 win.
 
LIU came back strong in set two. Up 7-6, over the next 15 points the Sharks would outscore the home team 11-4, taking an 18-10 lead. LIU would hold on to that lead and tie the match up by winning set two, 25-18.
 
After Jacksonville won set three and led the match, 2-1, the Sharks continue to fight in set four. Down 6-10, LIU would five unanswered points to retake the lead, 11-10. JU would go back up by as much as 19-15, but the Sharks didn't back down. A kill from Berg would spark a run for the visitors, and the Sharks scored four straight points to go back ono top, 22-21, eventually taking the set four win, 25-23.
 
The decisive fifth set was also back and forth from the start. Tied up 8-8, a Jacksonville error and an ace from Hoskova made it 10-8 for LIU. A kill from Strongman and one from Berg and another ace from Hoskova made it 13-8 for the Sharks. Jacksonville would go on a 3-0 run to cut the lead, but a kill from Stekovic would end the set, 15-12 in favor of the Sharks, giving LIU the 3-2 win.
 
Jovana Stekovic had a season-high 24 kills in the match, along with 17 digs. Freshman Katie Berg had 13 kills, while freshman Celine Mukura had 10 kills and four blocks. Freshman Rumur Rouille added five blocks at the net as well. Allie Merz had 40 assists to pace the offence, while Barbora Hoskova had 18 digs to lead the defense, and Scott chipped in 14 digs.
 
Up next, the Sharks wrap up the tournament by taking on Furman, Saturday, September 11 at aa a.m.