Boxscore (PDF)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball dropped a 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11) match at Florida A&M on Tuesday evening at the Al Lawson Center.
 
"I would have liked to have played a more focused and intense match from start to finish," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "Unfortunately, we had some let-ups, which allowed Florida A&M to grab some momentum. Our team is not happy with how they performed tonight and how they prepared.  This will be a match that we grow from."
 
The first set was a battle from the middle of the set to the final point. UNF and Florida A&M traded points, but the Lady Rattlers held a late 21-19 lead on a Ginna Lopez-Chavez kill. However, the Ospreys fought back and a kill from Carina Hoff eventually tied the set at 23-23. A kill from Kelly Koop allowed UNF to go up 24-23. The Ospreys won the set on a Florida A&M attacking error in order to lead 1-0 in the set.
 
The second set also came down to its final points. With UNF up 19-17, Florida A&M chipped away at the Ospreys' advantage and tied it at 19-19 on an Osprey attack error. Four additional ties occurred, including at 23-23 when Anna Budinska tied it with a kill. However, the Lady Rattlers captured the final two points of the set on a kill from Katherine Huanec and an Osprey attack error in order to tie the match at 1-1.
 
A key six-point run powered UNF to a third-set victory. A kill from Cameron McGuire began the run that saw the Ospreys go up 15-9. UNF ultimately led by as many as seven before the Lady Rattlers attempted to cut into the Ospreys' lead. Florida A&M came to within four on two occasions before UNF locked up the third set on a Florida A&M service error.
 
Florida A&M was able to string together several consecutive points midway through the fourth set in order to pull away from the Ospreys. The Lady Rattlers led by as many as six before UNF was able to pull to within three as a Koop kill made it 18-15 in favor of Florida A&M. That was as close as the Ospreys could get as Florida A&M ended the set on a 7-0 run in order to force a fifth set.
 
 In the fifth set, UNF had to contend with a hot-hitting Florida A&M team that quickly jumped ahead of the Ospreys. The Lady Rattlers went up 7-1 on a Huanec kill. UNF attempted to come back late and fended off match point three times, including when an Abby Fesl ace made it 14-11, but a Huanec kill on the next point sealed the match for Florida A&M.
 
UNF continues with its six-match road swing this weekend at the Benson's Group Invitational in Athens, Ga. The Ospreys open the tournament against host Georgia on Friday night at 7 p.m., and conclude it on Saturday against UNC Greensboro (10 a.m.) and Louisiana-Lafayette (4 p.m.).