UNF-North Carolina A&T Boxscore (PDF)
UNF-Winthrop Boxscore (PDF)
 
ROCK HILL, S.C. – University of North Florida volleyball ended the Winthrop Classic with a pair of wins on Saturday. The Ospreys downed North Carolina A&T 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 21-25, 25-10) and then swept host Winthrop 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-14) to go a perfect 3-0 on the weekend.
 
“I was very excited that we ended the weekend on a very high note,” said head coach Steve Loeswick “This morning's match with North Carolina A&T gave us an opportunity to give some of our team, who have been training very hard, some live competition.
 
“This afternoon, we played Winthrop with focus and enthusiasm, which allowed us to perform at a consistent and high level,” added Loeswick. “It was a great match to prepare us for our upcoming road matches to start the Atlantic Sun portion of our schedule.”
 
Against North Carolina A&T, Marija Pantovic had a team-high 13 kills and Dagnija Medina added 10. Casey Giovanazzi put up 49 assists, while Nicole Baran added another 30-dig match.
 
UNF had a four-point lead midway through the first set until North Carolina A&T took advantage of several Osprey miscues and tied the set at 16-16. Kills from Cameron McGuire and Paige Pridgeon broke the tie and gave UNF a two point lead. However, it wasn't until later in the set when kill by Julie Trembley sparked a critical three-point run that allowed the Ospreys to pull away in the opening set.
 
An early eight-point run in the second set the tone for UNF. The Osprey offense strung together multiple runs throughout the set. UNF led by as many as 11 late into the set when a Medina ace made it a 19-8 set. The Ospreys eventually ended the set with a Medina-Marija Pantovic block that gave them a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
However, both teams struggled with errors in the third set. UNF was able to erase a seven-point deficit and tie the set at 16-all on a Kelsey Smith ace. North Carolina A&T got six of the next seven points in order to distance itself from the Ospreys and take the third set.
 
UNF rebounded with powerful fourth set that saw the Ospreys hit .400 with 15 kills and only one error. Another early eight-point run set the tone for the Osprey offense. UNF's lead reached the double-digits midway through and was maintained for the remainder of the set. UNF's largest lead came on match point when Madison Hatcher sealed a 15-point set win and the match with a kill.
 
Against Winthrop, Anna Budinska and Britt Claessens each had a double-double. Budinska posted a 15-kill, 19 dig double-double. Claessens had a 44-assist, 13 dig performance. Carolyn Jenkins added 12 kills and four blocks, while Baran made 21 digs.
 
UNF came out strong in the first set and used a late six-point run to pull away from the Eagles. Up by five, a Pridgeon kill started the run that saw UNF go up 23-12. UNF's largest lead came on set point when a Jenkins kill gave the Ospreys a 12-point, 25-13 win.
 
UNF and Winthrop went back and forth for most of the second set. With it tied at 16-16, Winthrop attempted to pull away and went up 24-20 on a Kristin Cruse kill. Facing set point, UNF rallied and closed out the set on a six-point run that lifted the Ospreys to a 26-24 victory. Budinska was part of five of UNF's final six points, tallying four kills and a block with Jenkins. The rally was complete when Claessens dumped the ball for the set winner.
 
“It was a great comeback in which all six of the people on the court had to make important plays.  The comeback was not a one-person thing.  It was our team coming together and finding a way to score some points.”
 
The third set initially looked like it was going to be another battle, but UNF had an early seven-point run that separated the Ospreys from the Eagles. A block by Medina and Claessens capped the run and put UNF up 11-6. The Ospreys pushed their lead up to 11 later in the set when a Winthrop attacking error made it 23-12. Kills from Pridgeon ultimately ended the set and the match.

Following the conclusion of Saturday's matches, the All-Tournament Team was announced. Baran was tabbed the tournament's MVP after totaling 81 digs, averaging 7.36 digs per set and recording a pair of 30-dig matches. Claessens and Budinska were also named All-Tournament. Claessens put up 90 sets in seven sets and two matches, while Budinska had 25 kills in seven sets and two matches.
 
UNF returns to the court next weekend when it opens up Atlantic Sun play. The Ospreys' conference-opener is at A-Sun newcomer Northern Kentucky next Friday. Match time is set for 7 p.m.