Boxscore (PDF)
DeLAND, Fla. – Junior setter
Britt Claessens notched an impressive 55-assist, 25-dig double-double and University of North Florida volleyball posted a 3-1 (25-12, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21) win against Stetson at the Edmunds Center Tuesday night in what was the Ospreys' last road match of the regular season.
“I'm very happy that we were able to finish that match against a scrappy Stetson team. We did some good things offensively, but I wished we would have limited our errors more,” said head coach Steve Loeswick. “Britt had an outstanding match distributing the ball and played some really good defense. We have a few days to recover and get ready for our cross-town rival Jacksonville on Saturday.”
Claessens' 25 digs were a new career high, demolishing her previous career-high of 14. Additionally, her 55 assists are the most she's had in a four-set match this season.
Meanwhile,
Dagnija Medina made a match-high 15 kills.
Kaley Melville paced Stetson with a 12-kill, 10-dig double-double.
UNF powered its way to a dominating, 13-point win in the first set. The Ospreys, who hit .367 in the set, served up four of their six aces for the match in the opening set and had 15 kills compared to Stetson's five kills.
Cari Whitmire and
Nicole Baran each had two aces.
The Ospreys took their first 10-point lead of the opening set on a Stetson error and go up 17-7. UNF built upon their momentum and eventually used a four-point run to take a 12-point, 23-11 lead. Whitmire ultimately served up the set-winning ace.
The Ospreys pulled out a close second set. Trailing by one late, a kill from
Marija Pantovic started a three-point, set-ending run. After capitalizing on a Stetson error, a block by Claessens and
Carolyn Jenkins gave UNF the set's final point.
Stetson took advantage of several UNF miscues to take the third set and stay alive in the match. UNF came back from down by two late to even the set at 23-23, but the Hatters got the set's final two points to force a fourth set.
The fourth set came down to late points again, but the outcome was in UNF's favor. Up by two, straight kills from Jenkins and Pridgeon sealed the win for the Ospreys.
UNF returns to action on Saturday when the Ospreys host Jacksonville for this season's second SunTrust River City Rumble. Match time is set for 5 p.m., at UNF Arena.
