Boxscore (PDF)
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball pulled off its first five-set victory of the season with a 3-2 win (25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 17-15) over Florida Gulf Coast Monday night at UNF Arena. It is the first time since Nov. 11, 2005 in which the Ospreys defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the regular season. Additionally, it is the second time in the last three meetings in which UNF posted a five-set win over the Eagles. The Ospreys posted a 3-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast last season's Atlantic Sun semifinals.
 
"I was very proud of our team and the way they fought through the entire match," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "They've been training hard and I'm happy they were finally able to win a fifth set. They deserve to be playing against these quality teams and get some W's. That confidence of winning the fifth set should help us."
 
Anna Budinska powered the Ospreys with a 23-kill, 14-dig double-double, Cameron McGuire tallied 12 kills and six blocks. Abby Fesl notched a 43-assist, 15-dig double-double. Cari Whitmire dug 22 balls.
 
Olivia Mesner paced the Eagles' offense with a .658 hitting percentage, making 25 kills off 38 total attempts. Gigi Meyer had a 58-assist, 11-dig double-double, while Karina Mambuca made 22 kills.
 
UNF came out strong in the first set with a .342 hitting percentage. The Ospreys attempted to separate themselves from Florida Gulf Coast with a five-point run midway through the set. Down by two, a kill from Budinska sparked the run that pushed UNF to an 18-15 lead. Florida Gulf Coast chipped away at UNF's lead and pulled to within one on a Mesner kill that made it 19-18 in favor of UNF. However, UNF strung together two points on two occasions build a small cushion and ultimately win the set on a Budinska kill.
 
UNF had a strong grasp on the second set, leading by as many as eight on two occasions, including at 20-12 on a Morgan Van Alstine block. However, the second set slipped away from UNF as Florida Gulf Coast had two late and costly runs. A five-point Eagle run cut the Ospreys' lead down to three. After a Florida Gulf Coast attack error made it 21-17 for UNF, the Eagles erased the deficit with a six-point spurt to take a 23-21 lead. A kill from Van Alstine stopped the run, but an Osprey service error and then a kill from Carolina Jordan allowed Florida Gulf Coast to win the set and tie the match at 1-1.
 
Several runs by Florida Gulf Coast had the Ospreys facing a nine-point deficit in the third set. A kill from Marlene Moeller pushed the Eagles to a 17-8 lead. A kill from Saelina Dunn on the next point started a four-point UNF run that trimmed Florida Gulf Coast's lead down to five. UNF gradually pulled to within one on a kill from Budinska to make it 21-20 in favor of Florida Gulf Coast, but the Eagles closed out the set with a 4-1 run to take a 2-1 lead for the match.
 
"Early in the third set, Florida Gulf Coast was serving us tough and we were out of system a lot," said Loeswick. "We were able to settle down, pass better and run our offense. We made some positive plays and were able to carry that momentum over."
 
UNF began to pull away from Florida Gulf Coast in the middle of the fourth set. Tied 12-12, a Budinska kill was the first of four-straight Osprey points that pushed UNF to a 16-12 lead. UNF led by as many as six on two occasions, including at 22-16 on a Budinska kill. Florida Gulf Coast responded with a four-point run that trimmed UNF's lead down to two. After trading points, UNF took the set on an Eagle attack error to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Control of the final set went back-and-forth between UNF and Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles took a late 10-8 run on a Jessica Barnes kill. UNF fought to tie the set at 10-10 behind a Budinska kill and a Fesl ace. As the teams continued to battle, a Moeller kill pushed Florida Gulf Coast to match point, making it 14-13. Back-to-back kills from Kelly Koop and McGuire switched match point to UNF's favor as the Ospreys held a 15-14 lead. Kaitlin Holm's kill tied the set at 15-15, but a kill from McGuire and an Eagle attack error gave UNF the final two points it needed for the win.
 
UNF returns to action on Friday at cross-town rival Jacksonville for this season's second SunTrust River City Rumble meeting. Match time is set for 7 p.m., at Swisher Gymnasium.