UNF-Alabama State Boxscore (PDF)
UNF-UCF Boxscore (PDF)
Holiday Inn Select/UCF Invitational Tournament Central
Coach Loeswick Post-Day One Interview
 
ORLANDO, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball began the 2013 season with a split on the first day of the Holiday Inn Select/UCF Invitational at The Venue. The Ospreys got the day started with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-13, 25-23) sweep of Alabama State, but fell in the nightcap to host UCF 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-15).

"We had a little bit of an up and down day," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "The team came out in that first match and started a little slow. I think some of that was due to jitters, but they started playing pretty well and we got some things going in that match."
 
In the day's first match, UNF got off to a shaky start against Alabama State. Several early runs allowed the Hornet s to take a commanding lead in the first set. The Ospreys trailed by as many as eight late into the set, which included at 21-13. However, UNF rallied and put together several runs of its own in order to erase the Hornets' lead. Down by one, a Kelly Koop service ace deadlocked the set at 24-24. A kill from Anna Budinska provided the Ospreys with a one point lead, but a Hornet kill from Tiara Kelley kept the set alive. UNF completed the comeback with back-to-back kills from Cameron McGuire and Britt Claessens.

The second set was all UNF as there was only one tie (at 1-1) and Alabama State did not take a lead. An early 7-1 run that was sparked by a Koop kill started the Osprey offense and led to a 9-2 UNF advantage. UNF continued to pull away from Alabama State took its first 10-point lead at 21-11 after a McGuire kill and consecutive Koop aces. UNF ended the set with three-straight points, getting kills from Madison Hatcher, Erin Edwards and Carina Hoff.
 
UNF and Alabama State battled it out for the third set. The Ospreys led for much of the first part and held a five-point 19-14 led on a Hornet attack error. However, Alabama State used a 5-0 run to come back and tie the set at 19-19 on a Myla Marshall kill.  After going back-and-forth, a kill and an ace from McGuire pushed UNF to match-point and a 24-22 lead. Although the Hornets stayed alive on the next point due to a service error, UNF closed out the match with a Budinska kill.
 
Budinska led the Ospreys with 15 kills and a .387 hitting percentage. Hoff added nine kills. Claessens put up 24 assists in the first two sets, while Abby Fesl had 11 in the final set. Cari Whitmire made a match-best nine digs.
 
Amber Bennett paced Alabama State with eight kills. Brooke Beasley tallied 16 assists and Kelley recorded a team-high eight digs.
 
In the day's second match, UNF had to contend with a consistent hitting and blocking UCF team. The Knights hit .306 for the match and made 14.0 team blocks, including seven solo and 14 assist.

"This was a great match and a great learning experience for our team," said Loeswick. "At times, we had four freshmen on the court. There's a lot of learning going on and to be done. We're going to continue to improve and grow as a team. UCF is a strong team. They have some pretty tall and talented players. When we were out of system, their block did a nice job against us. They're a well-coached team."
 
The Ospreys got off to another slow start and quickly fell behind in the first set. UNF had to contend with a UCF team that hit .320 and made 5.0 total blocks in the first set alone. The Ospreys trailed by as many as 10 late into the set before pulling to within seven points.
 
The Ospreys rebounded with a strong second set that featured multiple, high-intense rallies. UNF tied the set at three different points early on, including at 7-7 on a Saelina Dunn ace, at 10-10 on a Fesl ace and at 11-11 on a Hoff kill. UCF attempted to pull away, went up 19-15 on an Angelica Crump kill. A block by McGuire and Fesl sparked a four-point Osprey run that featured two additional blocks and tied the set at 19-19. However, UCF outscored UNF 7-1 in the set's final eight points in order to win the second set and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
In the third set, UNF saw the Knights pull away due to several early run as UCF held an 11-3 lead. The Ospreys chipped away at UCF's lead and came to within four twice on Hoff kills. However, a late 5-0 run allowed the Knights to distance themselves from UNF en route to the match win.
 
UNF made 32 kills and hit .095 for the match. Budinska paced UNF with an 11-kill, 10-dig double-double. Fesl tallied 30 assists.
 
UCF made 41 kills with DeLaina Sarden making 18 of those. Sarden also had five total blocks. Marie Reiterova recorded 32 assists, and Jade Hayes dug 14 balls.
 
UNF finishes play at the Holiday Inn Select/UCF Invitational on Saturday at The Venue. The Ospreys face Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Noon and Valparaiso at 5:30 p.m. Live stats will be provided at this link. Additionally, fans can follow along with live tweets from @OspreyVB.