Final Boxscore
Game Book
MACON, Ga. – The North Florida volleyball team saw their season-best four match win streak halted following a disappointing 3-0 (18-25, 19-20, 20-25) decision Friday night at Atlantic Sun foe Mercer.
With the loss, UNF slips to 12-15 overall and 3-7 in A-Sun play while Mercer improves to 10-16 and 3-6.
The Ospreys struggled offensively posting a -.019 hitting percentage in the match.
Paige Pridgeon finished with 10 kills and 10 digs to lead UNF.
“We had an off night,” said UNF head coach Kevin Campbell. “We kept battling and finally found our game and started playing Osprey-style volleyball in the middle of the third set. Unfortunately, it was too late to affect the match. We just need to keep focused, get healed up and get ready to face JU again next Friday.”
Mercer opened the match quickly staking themselves to a 7-2 lead in set one. UNF used a 4-1 run to close the deficit to two before the Bears pushed back in front 15-9. The Ospreys pulled within one, 16-15, with a 6-1 surge but would get no closer as Mercer closed the set with a 9-3 run including the final five points.
Set two went back-and-forth over the first several rotations with North Florida earning their first lead of the match, 10-8. Mercer regained the lead with five consecutive points. The two squads continued to trade points, but another five point spurt for the Bears allowed them to gain the momentum. UNF continued to fight but Mercer scored four the final five points to earn the 2-0 lead.
The Bears built a 15-7 advantage in set three after scoring the first five points and then using a four-point spurt to close the run. UNF rallied behind a 5-1 run eventually getting to within four a couple times. Later in the frame, the Ospreys posted four consecutive points making the score 23-20, but Mercer got a pair of kills to secure the win.
North Florida next faces crosstown rival Jacksonville in the second edition of the SunTrust River City Rumble. The rematch is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in Swisher Gymnasium.
