Boxscore (PDF)UNF-Stetson ESPN3 Broadcast JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida volleyball dropped a close 3-1 (26-24, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23) match to FGCU on Friday night at UNF Arena.
"During much of this match, we played well, fought hard and get back into a couple of sets that we gave some early leads to," said head coach
Steve Loeswick. "We weren't very sharp early on with a couple of sets and that's something we've got to make sure we get better at. Overall, we played hard, and with a little better execution, we've got a chance to be pretty good."
Both of UNF's setters,
Abby Fesl and
Carinne Turner, registered double-doubles. Fesl had a 23-assist, 12-dig double-double, while Turner made 16 assists and 12 digs.
Carina Hoff led UNF with 10 kills, while
Kimberly Ferguson recorded 21 digs.
UNF hit .149 for the match, with 48 kills, 65 digs and 9.5 total team blocks.
Eleonora Kazarian paced FGCU with 16 kills. Maggie Rick tallied a 40-assist, 10-dig double-double, while Vanessa Benke notched 22 digs.
FGCU hit .119 for the match. The Eagles had 50 kills, 64 digs and 14.0 total team blocks.
UNF battled back after a slow start to the first set. The Ospreys trailed by as many as seven points late in the set with FGCU taking a 20-13 lead on a UNF ball handling error. A kill from Desaulnay sparked a critical five-point run that pulled UNF to within two. UNF continued to fight back and tied the set at 23-23 on an Eagle blocking error. After trading points, FGCU captured the last two points it needed, which included a set-ending block from Marlena Moeller and Kazarian.
The Ospreys were unable to overcome multiple runs by FGCU in the second set. With the Eagles up by four, FGCU pulled away from the Ospreys behind an eight-point run and went up 18-6 in the set. Although, UNF attempted to fight back, FGCU gained the set-point on an Osprey serving error in order to go up 2-0 in the match.
UNF bounced back in the third set, leading the entire way. The Ospreys went up by eight on a Turner service ace that made it 20-12. UNF eventually got at 24-15 lead on a
Katarina Raicevic kill, but the Eagles scored three-straight points to keep the set going. A kill from
Erin Edwards halted the Eagles' run and ended the set.
A late run allowed UNF to fight back in the fourth set. Down by five, an Edwards kill started a 6-1 run that allowed UNF to even the set at 18-18. FGCU responded with a three-point run to go up 21-18. Although the Eagles got to match point when a kill from Amanda Carroll made it 24-21, kills from
Tessa Alyman and Hoff kept the Ospreys alive. However, Carroll had the match-winning kill on the next point.
UNF returns to action on Saturday against Stetson at 5 p.m., at UNF Arena. Tickets from the UNF-Stetson volleyball match can be used for admission into the UNF men's soccer game that is later on Saturday at 7 p.m., at Hodges Stadium.
