UNF-Nicholls State Boxscore (PDF)
UNF-Charlotte Boxscore (PDF)
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball came back for a 3-1 (28-30, 25-20, 25-15, 20-17) win over Nicholls State, but dropped a 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11) match to Charlotte on the first day of the Radisson Invitational at UNF Arena.
 
"We had a slow start this morning, but I liked the way we battled back against Nicholls State," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "They are a good team and we did a nice job taking care of the ball offensively. Charlotte is a very athletic team and we fought point-for-point with them. We have to limit our errors a little more and keep the pressure on the other team. Hopefully, with more experience, we'll be able to finish matches like this in the future."
 
Play at the Radisson Invitational concludes on Saturday against Dayton (10 a.m.) and UNC Asheville (3 p.m.) at UNF Arena.
 
UNF 3, Nicholls State 1
After hitting .080 in the opening set, UNF battled back with a dominating performance, hitting .333-or-better in the final three sets. The Ospreys tallied 48 kills and only committed four errors in the last three sets.
 
Ten of UNF's 14 attack errors happened in the first set alone as the Ospreys were unable to withstand Nicholls State's late comeback as the Colonels won 30-28. UNF went up 21-16 on a Nicolls State attack error, but the Colonels used a 7-1 run to take a 23-22 lead. Both teams battled for the remaining points, but a kill and an aced from Kali Schwartz got Nicholls State its final two points.
 
The Ospreys went on to hit .415 for the second set alone, making 18 kills off 41 attack and only one error. Down by one in the second set, a kill from Carina Hoff powered the Ospreys to a 7-0 run and UNF went up 17-11 on a Cameron McGuire kill. UNF lead by as much as seven on two occasions, including at 22-15 on a Colonel attack error. Nicholls State brought the Ospreys' lead down to three as a Kaci Eaton made it 23-20. Kills from Madison Hatcher and Hoff provided UNF with its final two set points.
 
Several early runs quickly separated UNF from the Colonels. The Ospreys further distanced themselves with a 7-0 run midway through the set. Already up by four, a Nicholls State attack error sparked the seven-point spurt that put UNF up 22-11. A kill from McGuire ultimately allowed UNF to win the set.
 
Like the previous set, early runs allowed UNF to go up quick in the fourth set. A Carinne Turner ace gave the Ospreys an eight-point, 15-7 advantage. Nicholls State responded with a 6-1 spurt to cut the Ospreys' lead down to three. After trading points, a kill from Van Alstine started a 7-2 set-ending UNF run.
 
A trio of Ospreys recorded double-doubles. Courtney Miller posted 17 kills and 16 digs, while Turner made 25 assists and 17 digs. Cari Whitmire added a 27-dig, 13-assist double-double. Meanwhile, Hoff and Hatcher added 13 and 11 kills, respectively, and Abby Fesl put up 22 assists.
 
UNF hit .286 for the match with 62 kills and 80 digs.
 
Eaton recorded a 24-kill, 15-dig double-double for Nicholls State. Ainsley Marroccoli and Alyse Barclay tallied 25 and 24 assists, respectively. Kalynn recorded 28 digs.
 
Nicholls State hit .193 with 54 kills and 82 digs.
 
Charlotte 3, UNF 2
UNF won the first and third sets, but Charlotte came back to claim the fourth set and ultimately the decisive fifth set.
 
The Osprey started the match with another strong hitting set, registering a .324 attack percentage with 17 kills. Up 10-9, UNF's consistent offense allowed the Ospreys to go on several runs and eventually build a seven-point advantage. A kill from Morgan Van Alstine put the Ospreys up 21-14. UNF had an eight-point lead when Tessa Alyman's kill made it 24-16. Charlotte fended off three set points before a Alyman notched the set-winning kill.
 
Charlotte led from start to finish in the second set. UNF was within two points of the 49ers, but an Osprey attack error was the first point of an eight-point spurt that put Charlotte up 19-9. Charlotte would ultimately outscore UNF 6-5 for the set's last points to tie the match at 1-1.
 
A 7-1 spurt early in the third set allowed UNF to distance itself from the 49ers. A McGuire and Van Alstine block gave UNF the 13-6 advantage. The Ospreys continued to build on their lead and went up by 10 when Fesl's ace made it 23-13. After trading points, a Charlotte blocking error gave the Ospreys the set-winner and a 2-1 match advantage.
 
UNF battled back from a five-point deficit late in the fourth set, cutting Charlotte's lead down to three with a key Van Alstine-Erin Edwards block to make it 20-17. However, the 49ers responded with a 5-2 run to force a fifth set.
 
In the fifth set, UNF went up 8-7 on a Charlotte service miscue. However, Charlotte used a 6-1 lead to take a commanding 13-9 lead. After trading points and with the 49ers up 14-10, a kill from Miller kept UNF alive. Charlotte won the following point with a kill from Claire Kruez.
 
Both Hoff and Alyman had a team-best 10 kills. Turner put up 26 assists, while Whitmire tallied 18 digs.
 
UNF hit .174 and had 55 kills.
 
Savannah Gaster recorded a match-high 15 kills, while Britney Leigh Held put up 43 assists. Shelby Green had 20 digs.
 
Charlotte hit .180 with 52 kills.