Boxscore 1 vs FGCU (pdf)
Boxscore 2 vs Stetson (pdf)

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For the first time in the four year history of Atlantic Sun Conference sand volleyball, North Florida missed playing in the tournament championship game after posting a split in Saturday matches against Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson at Estero Community Park.

For the second straight day, the Ospreys (11-12) opened tournament play with a win over the Eagles before dropping a hard fought decision to the Hatters.

In the day's elimination game, UNF won matches on Court 4 and 5 in straight sets to set the tone for the match. The clinching point for North Florida came from Court No. 2, just like in Friday's match, as Tessa Alyman and Tanner Garbutt won in straight sets to give the Ospreys the third point. They closed out Marlene Moeller and Ashley Glickert 21-9 in the second set to give UNF the win.

The Ospreys concluded the match sweep with wins at Court No. 1 by Cari Whitmire and Cameron McGuire and Court No. 3 by Jess Kinlaw and Julie Trembley. The Ospreys did not have much time to celebrate, as they were back on the courts immediately to face Stetson in another elimination game.

UNF carried its winning momentum into the rematch with the Hatters claiming the first two points of the contest following victories on courts No. 4 and 5. Emily Davanzo and Ebony Gunn posted a straight set win, while Ambre Desaulney and Kimberly Ferguson took a third and decisive set 15-8 for the 2-0 UNF lead.

Stetson started a comeback with No. 1 pair Julie Bassett and Kaley Melville edging McGuire and Whitmire in a tighlty contested battle decided by scores of 23-21 in both sets. On court No. 2 Maren Rygh and Kristin Lind secured the Hatters' second point of the match with a straight set victory, 21-18 /21-9, over Alyman and Garbutt.

The match would be decided on court No. 3 as both pairs left it all on the court in a thrilling third set. Stetson's Savannah Byl and Holly Reschke rallied to win the second set and led 14-12 in the third set before the Osprey's Trembley and Kinlaw fought off four match points to tie the score at 16-16. The Stetson pair would earn the next two points to secure the win and end the UNF campaign just shy of the championship match.

North Florida's top tandem, Whitmire and McGuire, were named to the Atlantic Sun All-Tournament team.