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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jacksonville University Beach Volleyball opened the Carolina Challenge with a pair of 3-2 victories Friday, defeating UNCW and College of Charleston at Wheeler Beach. The tournament is hosted by the University of South Carolina.

With the two wins, Jacksonville improved to 8-0 in neutral-site matches this season, the best mark in program history. The ‘Phins 8-6 is also the best start through 14 games since the inception of the program in 2012.

Martinez Sets Program Record at No. 5

Katie Martinez made program history in the Dolphins’ opening match of the day. With a victory alongside Maddie Fielder at the No. 5 flight against UNCW, Martinez recorded her 14th career win at the No. 5 position, surpassing Hannah McMahon for the most in program history.

The pair added another victory later in the afternoon against College of Charleston, bringing Martinez’s total to 15 career wins at the five spot/.

Martinez & Fielder Stay Perfect

Fresh off being named ASUN Pair of the Week, Martinez and Fielder continued their dominant stretch, improving to 6-0 together and extending their personal winning streak to six matches.

Against UNCW, the duo battled back after dropping the opening set to defeat Keenen Engebretson and Courtney Jensen  13- 21, 28-26, 15-9, clinching the Dolphins’ third point of the dual.

They followed with a straight-set victory over College of Charleston’s Fiona North and Grace Toscano 21-18, 21-14. 

Dolphins Edge UNCW

Jacksonville opened the day with a 3-2 win over UNCW in the morning match. Hayden Garnett and Jamie Seward earned a straight-set win at the No. 3 flight, defeating Alivia Hamel and Traci Schrock  21-16, 21-15.

Morgan Perry and Kate Taylor followed with a three-set victory at No. 4 over Sophie Puhala and Sarah Thompson 19-21, 21-17, 15-11 before Martinez and Fielder secured the match with their three-set win at the five position.

JU Holds Off Charleston

The Dolphins carried the momentum into the afternoon matchup with College of Charleston, earning another 3-2 victory and completing a season sweep of the Cougars after previously defeating Charleston 4-1 on Feb. 28.

Claire Mrukowski and Megan Hair secured a straight-set win at the No. 1 flight 21-14, 21-19, while Meredith Mrukowski and Avery Kleithermes added a three-set victory at No. 2 21-15, 19-21,15-9.

Martinez and Fielder again delivered the deciding point for Jacksonville with their straight-set win at the five spot.

Jacksonville will conclude the Carolina Challenge on Saturday with matches against Boise State at 9 a.m. and host school, South Carolina at 1 p.m.

Results

Jacksonville 3, UNCW 2


Sistrunk / Trimp (UNCW) def. C. Mrukowski / Hair (JU) – 21-9, 17-21, 15-12



LaPata / Parkinson (UNCW) def. M. Mrukowski / Kleithermes (JU) – 24-22, 21-23, 15-12



Garnett / Seward (JU) def. Hamel / Schrock (UNCW) – 21-16, 21-15



Perry / Taylor (JU) def. Puhala / Thompson (UNCW) – 19-21, 21-17, 15-11



Martinez / Fielder (JU) def. Engebretson / Jensen (UNCW) – 13-21, 28-26, 15-9


Exhibition

McDonough / Cabrales (JU) def. Bowles / Barbour (UNCW) – 20-22, 21-16, 16-14

Jacksonville 3, College of Charleston 2


C. Mrukowski / Hair (JU) def. Curry / Thayse (COFC) – 21-14, 21-19



M. Mrukowski / Kleithermes (JU) def. Duffner / Hopkins (COFC) – 21-15, 19-21, 15-9



Clark / Newberg (COFC) def. Taylor / Perry (JU) – 18-21, 21-19, 15-13



Sageer / Loving (COFC) def. Garnett / McDonough (JU) – 21-17, 21-16



Martinez / Fielder (JU) def. North / Toscano (COFC) – 21-18, 21-14


Exhibition

Seward / Swink (JU) def. Carr / Belak (COFC) – 21-13, 21-17