Boxscore (PDF) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Strong hitting lifted University of North Florida volleyball to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-22) sweep of Stetson to end the regular season Saturday afternoon at UNF Arena. The Ospreys hit a season-best .394 for the match.
"The team did a real nice of staying focused all the way through today's match," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "We did a very nice job with our serve and pass and were efficient on offense. We're excited about next week's Atlantic Sun Tournament and hope to continue to play well."
The Ospreys connecting on 51 kills on 104 total attack and only committing 10 errors for the entire match. UNF hit over .350 for the first and third sets and then .469 in the second set.
The Ospreys fended off a late Stetson surge in the first set. With UNF up 17-12, Stetson went on a five-point run to tie the set at 17-17. A kill from
Cameron McGuire broke the tie as the Ospreys scored three quick points to go up 20-17. Although Stetson forced two more ties, a kill from
Erin Edwards sparked a set-ending four-point run.
Both teams battled throughout the second set. The Ospreys held a four-point advantage midway through with a
Tessa Alyman kill putting UNF ahead 15-11. Stetson cut the Ospreys' lead down to one twice, including at 20-19 with a service ace. However, UNF took advantage of a Hatter attack error, using that miscue to end the set on a five-point run and go up 2-0 in the match.
UNF led for most of the third set, but Stetson came back to go up 18-17 on an Osprey attack error. The Ospreys fought back used a Stetson attack error and an Edwards kill to take a 20-19 lead. As points flipped-flopped between the two teams, Alexis Villa served an aced that put Stetson up 22-21. An Alyman kill on the next point sparked a match-ending four-point run.
Morgan Van Alstine and McGuire paced UNF's hitting. Van Alstine registered a .667 attack percentage, tallying 11 kills on 15 attack with one error. McGuire hit .500 with nine kills on 16 attack and one error. Alyman also added 11 kills.
Abby Fesl and
Carinne Turner made 23 and 19 assists, respectively.
Cari Whitmire tallied 22 digs.
McKenna Foster and Akins each tallied 11 kills for Stetson. Kayla Weller tallied 28 assists and Alexa Drost made 15 digs.
Stetson hit .148 with 34 kills and 38 digs.
UNF continues its season in next week's Atlantic Sun Tournament held at Florida Gulf Coast's Alico Arena. The Ospreys are seeded sixth and face cross-town rival Jacksonville in the first round on Thursday.
