Boxscore (PDF) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball battled, but was unable to finish any of the three sets in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-22) loss to Jacksonville on Friday night at Swisher Gymnasium in the first River City Rumble meeting of the season
"Our goal as a team and a program is to get better every opportunity we have," said head coach Steve Loeswick. "This is one of those times. Some of the fight and intensity that I saw from our team tonight is something that I haven't seen all year. I'm excited about bits and pieces of our game. This is going to be a lesson that will propel us forward and make sure that we are physically and mentally prepared for all the tough matches we have coming up."
Trailing 19-10 in the first set and facing a hot-hitting Jacksonville team, the Ospreys capitalized on a Jacksonville's first attack error and went on an eight-point run to make it a one-point set.
Carinne Turner served two aces during the run, while the Ospreys got three blocks – two assist from
Carina Hoff and
Erin Edwards and one solo by Edwards. UNF fought back and tied the set at 20-20 on a
Courtney Miller kill. Another Miller kill later in the set put UNF up 24-23, but Jacksonville fended off set-point and used a three-point run to end the set.
Both UNF and Jacksonville used multiple runs in a fight for control of the second set. Down by two, an Edwards kill sparked a four-point run that gave the Ospreys a 13-11 advantage. Jacksonville came back to take a one-point, 15-14 lead on a Sammie Strausbaugh kill. After trading points, a three-point surge put the Dolphins up 20-18. UNF cut the Dolphins' lead down to one on several occasions, including at 24-23 on a Miller kill, but Jacksonville took the set on an Osprey attack error.
Three-straight multi-point spurts allowed Jacksonville to go up 19-13 in the third set. UNF attempted to chip away at the Dolphins' lead. Back-to-back
Tessa Alyman kills started a four-point Osprey run that cut the deficit down to two. UNF came to within two points several times and fended off match-point twice before the Dolphins collected the deciding kill.
Miller had a team-best 11 kills, while Edwards added nine.
Abby Fesl posted a 14-assist, 10-dig double-double.
Cari Whitmire tallied 24 digs.
UNF hit .137 for the match and totaled 40 kills and 70 digs.
Strausbaugh had 23 of the Dolphins' 44 kills. She also hit .321. Jizzian Gesulado recorded 36 assists, while Nicole Pritchard had 23 digs.
Jacksonville hit .207 and tallied 77 digs.
UNF returns to action next Friday at Florida Gulf Coast. Match time is set for 7 p.m., at Alico Arena.
