BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a back and forth battle between the University of North Florida and the Florida A&M volleyball teams, the Ospreys outlasted the Rattlers, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10) on Tuesday night in non-conference action at UNF Arena.

“We started out slow again and it was frustrating,” said UNF head coach Kevin Campbell. But the team showed a lot of heart and pulled it through. I am so appreciative of the UNF community for coming out to our match. It was an exciting atmosphere with a lot of spectator involvement. It really gave us energy at the end of the match.”

The Ospreys (7-7, 2-4 A-Sun) were led by junior outside hitter Kaley read with 20 kills and 11 assists for her sixth double-double of the season. Freshman outside hitter Paige Pridgeon tallied 19 kills and 11 digs for her fourth straight double-double while junior outside hitter Danielle Lerch added 12 kills. Junior setter Jessica Catelano posted 40 assists and freshman libero led the defensive charge with 16 digs.

FAMU (3-7, 0-0 MEAC) was led by Jovana Blazeski with 25 kills and 16 digs. Maria Gomez added 15 kills while Pamela Barrera had 11. Jessica Bond tallied 52 assists and Susan Egoavil posted a match-high 23 digs.

FAMU took control of the first set early, jumping out to a 10-1 lead. The Ospreys fought back, knotting the set at 16 off a kill from Read. The two teams battled over the next several rallies with neither team pulling ahead by more than two. UNF and FAMU were tied at 22, but a trio of attack errors by the Ratters gave UNF the points needed to clinch the first set, 25-22.

In the second set, the Rattlers again came out strong, taking an 8-3 advantage. The Ospreys closed the gap to two at 20-18, but FAMU again extended the lead, going up 22-18. UNF would not back down and pulled to within on at 24-23 off back-to-back kills from Lerch. FAMU's Johnson got a kill on the next volley to give the Rattlers the 25-23 win and even the match at one set each.

UNF controlled much of the third set, taking an early 10-6 lead. The Rattlers evened out the scoring at 14, but UNF responded with a run behind the serving of Catelano to take a 21-16 advantage. FAMU closed the gap to three (24-21), but a kill by Pridgeon secured the set, 25-21 for the Ospreys.

The fourth set was back and forth between the two teams until FAMU pulled ahead to take a 14-9 lead. UNF closed the gap to two at 17-15, but the Rattlers responded with a 7-2 run to go up 22-17. The Ospreys would again look to make a move, closing the gap again to three at 24-21, but a kill from Blazeski gave FAMU the point to take the fourth, 25-21.

UNF and FAMU battled in the fifth set and were tied at eight before the Ospreys took control. Catelano again went on a service run highlighted by back-to-back aces, pulling UNF to a 12-8 lead. Kills from Agata Dawidowicz and Pridgeon put the Ospreys at match point (14-10). The Rattlers would get a final chance, but a block assist by Read and Dawidowicz secured the match for UNF.

The Ospreys will return to the road this weekend for a Friday, Oct. 2 contest at Kennesaw State. On Saturday, Oct. 3 UNF will play Mercer in Macon, Ga.