Nov. 16, 2005

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida volleyball team's 2005 season and its bid to finish with 20 wins for an eighth consecutive year came to a disappointing finish on Wednesday night at South Florida in a 3-0 loss to the Bulls (30-26, 30-24, 30-23).

A .190 hitting percentage and 13 service aces by USF proved fatal for UNF, which managed only 34 kills in the match. Emily Kohler had 10 kills and hit .381 to lead the Lady Ospreys (19-10), while Jennifer King finished with eight kills for UNF.

South Florida (4-22) hit .255, including .306 and .321 in the final two games. Michelle Stalbaum led the Bulls with 16 kills, while Johari Williams added 11.

"They simply outplayed us in every way a team can," UNF head coach Bryan Bunn said. "They served the ball very well and hit it well, and those factors were tough to overcome. This finish doesn't take away from the season we had, though. We had a good year in our first Division I season, and I was proud of what I saw from our team. The future is definitely bright."

In game one, UNF led 21-20 before the Bulls scored eight of the next nine points to take a commanding 28-22 lead. Williams and Stalbaum each tallied two kills in the rally.

UNF then took a brief 13-11 lead in game two before the Bulls put together another big rally, scoring the next five points to move back in front for good. UNF then fell behind 12-3 in the final game - never leading - en route to only the fourth loss in its last 20 matches.

The win snapped an eight-match losing streak for South Florida, who last won on Oct. 16 in a 3-2 victory at Atlantic Sun Conference foe Jacksonville.

UNF, which is in its first year of reclassification from Division II to Division I, is not eligible to participate in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament this season. The Lady Ospreys finished 7-2 and in third place in the A-Sun during the regular- season.

The A-Sun will announce its all-conference teams on Thursday.