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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball begins the second half of Atlantic Sun play with the second River City Rumble match of the season as the Ospreys host cross-town rival Jacksonville at 6 p.m., at UNF Arena.
 
"It is always an intense match when our two programs play," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "I expect it to be the same way on Friday. Jacksonville has some talented players. Our team is excited to play and is ready to get out on the court."
 
The Ospreys ride a four-match winning streak into Friday, picking up two nonconference, mid-week road wins and a pair of Atlantic victories last weekend. UNF comes off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at Florida A&M on Tuesday to cap off the nonconference part of the regular season.
 
Since the close set 3-0 loss at Jacksonville a month ago, all of the Ospreys' matches have gone either four or five sets. That includes a five-set match at Atlantic Sun leader Lipscomb two weeks ago and UNF is the only conference team to take Lipscomb to five sets this season.
 
The Ospreys continue to lead the Atlantic Sun in blocks with 187 total blocks and a 2.05 block per set average. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings release on Thursday, UNF is No. 56 out of 150 teams ranked nationally in total blocks and No. 157 out of 328 teams in blocks per set.
 
Meanwhile, Cari Whitmire has established herself as the Atlantic Sun digs leader, averaging 4.75 digs per set and totaling 432 digs on the season. The only player in the Atlantic Sun to have multiple 30+ dig matches this season, Whitmire's 4.75 dig per set average is ranked No. 46 nationally.
 
Each of Jacksonville's previous four matches have been decided in three sets with the last three being 3-0 victories. The Dolphins collected a pair of 3-0 sweeps against USC Upstate and Kennesaw State last weekend and come off a mid-week 3-0 win at Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. All of the Dolpins' Atlantic Sun wins this season have been 3-0. Sammie Strausbaugh is the Atlantic Sun's top offensive player with 365 kills and 4.80 kills per set. She ranks eighth nationally in kills per set and is 11th in total kills.
 
UNF leads the all-time series with Jacksonville 14-12, but the Dolphins have won the last three meetings.
 
So far for the 2014-15 season, UNF and Jacksonville are tied a 1-1 in the overall River City Rumble standings. Two points will be up for grabs on Friday. In addition to volleyball, the UNF and Jacksonville women's soccer teams square off on Friday night at 8 p.m., at Hodges Stadium.
 
Several promotions surround Friday's volleyball match. The first 350 UNF students will receive a free t-shirt. Additionally, a ticket purchased at volleyball can be used to gain admission into the women's soccer game.
Tickets for volleyball matches are $5 Adult and $3 Youth 17-and-under, Senior Citizens 55+, UNF Faculty/Staff, and Military. Students with a valid Osprey1 Card and children 2-and-under are free.