BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida volleyball team fell to crosstown, Atlantic Sun rival Jacksonville University, 3-0 (22-25, 19-25, 17-25) on Wednesday night in Swisher Gymnasium on the JU campus.

“I think there were times that we executed really well,” said UNF head volleyball coach Kevin Campbell. “There were times that people played at a really high level. But we were unable to play at that level consistently and that is what we need to work on. Our consistency needs to improve so that we can perform at our ultimate level.”

Freshman outside hitter Paige Pridgeon led the Ospreys (4-6, 0-3 A-Sun) with 11 kills. Juniors Kaley Read and Nallelis Sanfeliz each had 12 digs on the defensive side, while sophomore setter Julie Fye tallied 28 assists.

The Dolphins (4-5, 1-2 A-Sun) were led by Aidan Yeager with seven kills. Shelley Walroth posted 20 digs while Ashley August had 11 assists.

UNF and JU played a close set in the opening frame with neither team going up by more than four when the Dolphins took an 11-7 advantage early. The Ospreys responded behind the serving of Marshay Greenlee as UNF knotted the set at 12. JU again pulled ahead with a 16-13 lead, but the Ospreys answered once more, taking their first lead of the set since the early rallies, going up 18-16 as Read served five straight. UNF and JU were again tied at 19 and at 20, but the Dolphins would stretch the lead, going up 24-21. North Florida would get another chance after a ball handling error by the Dolphins, but JU closed out the set on the next rally with a kill to take the set 25-22 and the 1-0 lead in the match.

The Ospreys jumped out early in the second set, taking an 8-1 lead as Sanfeliz served eight straight. North Florida held on to the lead, but the Dolphins chipped away and tied up the set at 12. UNF extended its lead to three (16-13). JU kept the match close and tied up the set at 18 and 19. The Dolphins closed out the set with a 6-0 run to take a 2-0 match lead.

Jacksonville took control of the third set early, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. The Ospreys looked to respond behind the serving a Greenlee as they closed the gap to three at 14-11. That is as close as the Ospreys would come. JU took the third set, 25-17 to clinch the match.

“We have to stay steady,” Campbell said. “We have to believe in the training and we have to believe in ourselves. This was a missed opportunity. We are lucky that there are more opportunities ahead of us and we have to be ready for those opportunities.”­­

The Ospreys will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 19 when they host USC Upstate in the 2009 season home opener. Game time is set for 3 p.m.