Live Stats (Both Matches)Live Video (Lipscomb Match Only)Instagram Promo VideoWeekly NotesTicket Information JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first of two important home weekends is up for University of North Florida volleyball as the Ospreys host Atlantic Sun leader Lipscomb and Northern Kentucky at UNF Arena. UNF takes on Lipscomb on Friday at 7 p.m., and then Northern Kentucky at 3 p.m., in two matches that will have an impact on the conference standings and the A-Sun Tournament.
"This weekend is going to be a real test. Both Lipscomb and Northern Kentucky have been performing at a high-level all season and we expect both of this weekend's matches to be challenging," said head coach
Steve Loeswick. "This is a big Atlantic Sun weekend and we're excited to be at home and to play in front of our fans. We had great support two weeks ago and hope to have that same energy back for these two tough matches.
Lipscomb is currently the only team to have locked up a berth for the six-team A-Sun Tournament that is in two weeks. Northern Kentucky is in a tied for third with Stetson as both schools have 5-5 conference records. UNF is in right behind in a three-way tie with Jacksonville and Kennesaw State at 4-6.
Friday night's match kicks off a regular-season ending four-match homestand for the Ospreys. UNF has not finished the regular season with this many home matches in a row since 2002 when the Ospreys had six home contests to end the regular season.
UNF split a pair of five-set matches last weekend, falling at USC Upstate, but fighting back to win at Kennesaw State. However, the Ospreys have won their last four home matches, including a 3-0 sweep against Jacksonville two weeks ago.
Cari Whitmire continues to set the bar for digs in the Atlantic Sun. With 51 digs totaled in two matches last weekend, Whitmire collected her 500th dig of the season and ranks fifth among UNF's single-season leaders. She is just the third Osprey to reach the 500-dig benchmark for a season. Assistant coach Tara (Taylor) Sunquist and Nicole Baran each had two 500-dig seasons. Whitmire leads the A-Sun with 500 digs and is averaging 4.81 digs per set.
Also last weekend, the 2014 Ospreys broke into UNF's team single-season record book as the Ospreys got their 344th block assist of the year.
Cameron McGuire and
Morgan Van Alstine had a fifth-set block assist against Kennesaw State. In each of Loeswick's three seasons, UNF has posted a Top-10 team single-season mark for block assists.
The Atlantic Sun's leader in kills per set, Lipscomb is the only team to have locked in a berth into the Atlantic Sun Tournament. After suffering their first conference loss of the season at Northern Kentucky two weeks ago, the Lady Bisons rebounded with wins against both Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. Lipscomb has only gone to five sets with an Atlantic Sun opponent twice this year, defeating UNF, but falling to the Norse. Lauren Ford enters the weekend with 358 kills and 3.93 kills per set, while Kayla Ostrom's 10.92 assists per set average is the second-highest in the conference.
Lipscomb holds an 11-3 advantage in the all-time series and won this year's earlier meeting 3-2 in Nashville.
Northern Kentucky's match at UNF is the Norse's final road regular season match. After handing Lipscomb its loss two weeks ago, the Norse split last weekend's matches, falling in five sets to Florida Gulf Coast and sweeping Stetson. Northern Kentucky has struggled in conference road matches thus far, going 1-4, but the Norse lead the A-Sun in hitting percentage (.236). Two Norse are in the A-Sun Top 5 for hitting percentage. Jenna Ruble enters the weekend with a .346 hitting percentage, while Keely Creamer is at .257. Taylor Snyder is putting up 10.64 assists per set and Mel Stewart averages 4.35 digs per set.
After winning this season's first meeting 3-2, Northern Kentucky has a slight 5-4 edge in the all-time series.
Friday's night match with Lipscomb is Youth Volleyball Night. Any youth 17-and-under wearing a volleyball jersey receives a $2 ticket.
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.
