University of North Florida
-1019, 415 ASun
Mercer
-1117, 910 ASun
North Florida Falls to Mercer, 3-1
11/13/2009 9:47:00 PM | Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida volleyball team outhit Mercer 55 kills to 43, but Mercer held on to pick up the 3-1 (25-15, 14-25, 14-25, 24-26) win on Friday night in Atlantic Sun action at UNF Arena.
Junior middle blocker Kaley Read tallied 17 kills to lead the Ospreys (10-19, 4-15 A-Sun). Freshman outside hitter Paige Pridgeon posted 14 kills and 12 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. Junior setter Jessica Catelano had 49 assists, while freshman libero Nicole Baran notched 15 digs.
Senior outside hitter Agata Dawidowicz was honored prior to the match as the lone senior for the Ospreys this season. Dawidowicz had seven kills and 11 digs.
For the Bears (11-17, 9-10 A-Sun), Rachel Urbelis had 13 kills and Libby Hansch added nine. Nickie Halbert and Chelsea Gebben had 20 and 14 assists, respectively. Amiee Frutchey tallied a match high 19 digs.
UNF came out strong in the opening set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead early. The Bears closed the gap to four at 15-11 and again at 18-14, but the Ospreys responded with a 1-0 run to take a 23-14 advantage. Mercer would score once more, but a kill by Catelano followed by a kill from Dawidowicz gave UNF the 25-15 win and a 1-0 lead in the match.
In the second set Mercer took the early lead at 12-6. The Ospreys were unable to respond as Mercer took its largest lead at 23-12. The Bears won set two, 25-14, to knot the match at one set each.
North Florida and Mercer traded points to open the third set before the Bears went on a run to take a 13-8 lead. UNF was unable to mount a run as Mercer picked up the 25-14 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
UNF went on an early run in the fourth set to take a 13-9 lead. Mercer responded with a run to go on top 17-14. The Ospreys would regain possession on the next rally off a Pridgeon kill and would tie the set at 17. The two teams went back and forth and were tied at 22, 23 and 24. Mercer was able to pick up the final two points to secure the set, 26-24, and take the match.
The Ospreys will be back on the court on Saturday, Nov. 14, in their 2009 finale as they face Kennesaw State at 3 p.m. in UNF Arena.
