UNF-Texas A&M Corpus Christi boxscore
UNF-Wyoming boxscore

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of North Florida volleyball team (4-6) battled on the opening day of play at the Hampton Inn Invitational but dropped a pair of hard-fought four set decisions to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Wyoming at College of Charleston's TD Arena.

In the first match of the day, UNF grabbed an early advantage before the Islanders rallied for the 3-1 win (29-27, 19-25, 22-25, 16-25). Against Wyoming, the Ospreys split the first two sets before the Cowgirls were able to secure the 3-1 victory (8-25, 25-18, 20-25, 20-25).

Junior Paige Pridgeon led the way for UNF on day one posting a pair of double-double performances. She finished with 13 kills, 14 digs against TAMCC before tallying 18 kills, 11 digs versus Wyoming. Fellow junior Nicole Baran and freshman Julie Trembley each recorded double digit digs in both contests.

The Ospreys led early in the first set and then fought off the Islanders for a 1-0 lead. UNF led by as many as nine points at 18-9, before TAMCC rallied back to force extra points. Corpus Christi led at 26-25, but UNF scored four-of-five points to earn the set at 29-27.

The second set featured another fast start with UNF staking a 5-1 lead. With the Ospreys up 8-6, the Islanders scored eight-straight points to grab a 14-8 advantage. Texas A&M – Corpus Christi would lead the rest of the way to even the match with a 25-19 victory.

The third set was a close one that Texas A&M – Corpus Christi won by a slim 25-22 decison. With the score tied 11-11, the Islanders edged in front with three straight points. The Islanders maintained the lead until UNF tied the score at 18-18. TAMCC scored 7 of the next 11 points to close the set.

The Islanders controlled play in the fourth frame building a 22-8 lead and then closed out the match with a 25-16 win.

One big bright spot for the Ospreys was a 13-6 advantage in team blocks. Junior Carolyn Jenkins recorded a career best eight blocks to lead UNF's front line.

Wyoming used a 7-2 run to grab an early 10-4 advantage. After UNF scored the next point, the Cowgirls scored six straight to extend that lead to push their lead to double digits, 16-5. UW closed out the set by running off 10 of 13 points for a 25-8 final.

North Florida tallied six straight points to build an 8-3 lead in set two. Wyoming halted the run by scoring the next point but UNF answered with another five point surge to extend the lead to nine at 13-4. The Cowgirls tried to battle back pulling within five, 16-11. The Ospreys again regained the momentum behind four of the next six points. UNF turned back one final UW push holding on for a 25-18 decision.

The momentum shifted back to the Cowgirls after a 7-1 start in the third set. Wyoming maintained a five to six point lead over the next several rotations. North Florida then used a 10-2 run to seize a two-point margin, 15-13. Wyoming knotted the score at 15 setting up a back-and-forth contest for several points. With it all tied up at 20, the Cowgirls would score the last five points to win the set.

In the fourth frame, UNF fell behind early 7-4 before answering with a 5-2 run that tied the score at nine. The Ospreys edged in front for the first time in the set but a 10-2 run by Wyoming allowed them to move ahead, 22-14. North Florida made one last charge but was unable to overcome the Cowgirls in a 25-20 final score.

The Ospreys conclude play at the Hampton Inn Invitational with a pair of matches Saturday. UNF meets tournament host College of Charleston at Noon before facing UNC Wilmington at 5 p.m.