Boxscore (PDF) DURHAM, N.C. – Although University of North Florida volleyball played three tight sets, the Ospreys were unable to withstand late comebacks by High Point in each set and ultimately fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) in the final day of the Duke Invitational at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
"The composure we showed early in all three sets was very promising," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "No one likes losing, but the play within the match continues to improve. This team is excited to get back into the gym and keep training."
UNF held late leads in both the first and second sets. In the first set, the Ospreys separated themselves from High Point early on and held several four-point leads. However, High Point chipped away at UNF's lead and used a three-point run to go up 19-18. After a
Courtney Miller kill tied the set at 19-19, the Panthers used a six-point run to end the set and go up 1-0 in the match.
The Ospreys led by as many as five in the second set, taking a 17-12 on a Panther attack error. High Point quickly cut UNF's lead down to one, using a four-point spurt to make it 17-16. UNF built a three-point advantage with an
Abby Fesl ace making it 20-17. However, an 8-1 run for High Point ended the set.
Control for the third set flipped-flopped between the two teams as there were 12 ties and six lead changes. UNF saw the final tie come at 19-19 on a Panther attacking error as High Point rode a 6-0 match-ending run.
Cameron McGuire and
Tessa Alyman tallied a team-best seven kills. Alyman also hit .417. Fesl put up 21 assists.
Kimberly Ferguson notched 11 digs.
UNF notched 31 kills and hit .103.
Krisitin Heldt tallied a match-high 15 kills and hit .520. Gabi Mirand recorded 31 assists and Wavie Chin dug 14 balls.
High Point recorded 37 kills and hit .237. The Panthers also tallied 9.0 total blocks.
Morgan Van Alstine was named to the All-Tournament Team after hitting .395 and tallying 22 kills.
UNF returns to action with next weekend's Jax Marriott Classic. Although hosted by Jacksonville University, the Ospreys host four matches at UNF Arena. The tournament begins for UNF on Friday against Florida Atlantic (2 p.m.) and Georgia State (7 p.m.) and concludes on Saturday with Coastal Carolina (10 a.m.) and Bethune-Cookman (6 p.m.).
