Jacksonville Dolphins Redefine 2026 Season With Historic Beach Volleyball Turnaround

Jacksonville University Beach Volleyball Rewrites Record Book During Historic 2026 Campaign JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 2026 season will be etched into the record books as a historic turning point for Jacksonville University’s beach volleyball program. Under the leadership of head coach Dylan Hough, the Dolphins achieved unprecedented success, setting new program benchmarks and establishing a foundation for future excellence. The Dolphins finished the season with 17 wins, a new single-season record that surpasses the previous mark of 15 victories set in 2024. This milestone was not just about the number of wins, but also about the quality of those victories. Jacksonville earned its first-ever wins over both North Alabama and Florida International University (FIU), and compiled a six-match winning streak—the longest since the program’s inception in 2012. The team’s postseason run was equally groundbreaking. The Dolphins reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history, marking their deepest postseason advancement since 2018. Their first-ever ASUN Tournament opening-round victory set the tone for a season of firsts and record-breaking performances. The success was driven by a standout lineup, featuring some of the strongest pairs in school history. Morgan Perry and Katie Martinez combined for 20 wins, tying for the second-most by a pair in a single season. Perry also set a new program record at the No. 4 flight with 17 wins, the most ever recorded at that position. At the top of the lineup, Megan Hair and Claire Mrukowski delivered one of the best seasons by a No. 1 pair, finishing with 18 victories—just two shy of the program’s all-time single-season record. Individual achievements were equally remarkable. Freshman Megan Hair set a new program record with 18 wins, the highest total ever by a freshman in a single season. Fellow freshman Maddie Fiedler also made an immediate impact, recording 17 wins—the second-most by a freshman in program history. Fiedler and Martinez combined for 17 wins at the No. 5 flight, setting another new program standard. Veteran leaders continued to make their mark. Claire Mrukowski became just the fifth player in program history to reach 50 career wins, while Katie Martinez moved into third place all-time with 55 career victories. Kate Taylor became the program’s all-time leader in wins at the No. 4 flight with 24 career victories, and Martinez also set the career record at the No. 5 position with 26 wins. Beyond the court, the Dolphins earned recognition for academic excellence. Six student-athletes were named to the ASUN All-Academic Team, the most in program history. Individually, Hair became the first player in Jacksonville history to earn both ASUN All-Conference and ASUN All-Freshman honors in the same season, while Martinez was named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year—the first Dolphin to receive this distinction since 2013. While the season concluded with a 3-0 loss to North Florida in the ASUN semifinals, the 2026 campaign established a new standard for the program. The Dolphins’ record-setting performances, historic victories, and deep postseason run have set the stage for continued growth and success in the years to come. The foundation built this season will be remembered as a defining chapter in Jacksonville University beach volleyball history.