UNF-Tennessee Tech Live StatsUNF-Eastern Kentucky Live StatsUNF-Tennessee Live StatsUNF-UNC Greensboro Live StatsWeekly Notes KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of North Florida volleyball takes its first out-of-state road trip this weekend as the Ospreys head to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Dish Tennessee Volleyball Classic. The Ospreys play four matches during the two-day tournament being held at Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena.
"We are excited to get back on the court," said head coach
Steve Loeswick. "This weekend's four competitive matches will allow us to continue to improve and grow as a group. I am also looking forward to seeing how the things we worked at this week at practice shows up in our play. Every day is a chance to get better individually and as a team."
UNF began the season with a 2-1 showing at last weekend's Panther Challenge. It marked the fourth time in the Ospreys' Division I history and the second time under Loeswick in which they started the season with a .500 record or better. The Ospreys are one of three teams heading into the Dish Tennessee Volleyball Classic with a winning record.
The Ospreys begin the tournament on Friday against Tennessee Tech (12:30 p.m.) and Eastern Kentucky (4:30 p.m.) and conclude it on Saturday with matches against Tennessee (10 a.m.) and UNC Greensboro (4:30 p.m.)
A Trip to SEC Land: The Ospreys have traveled to an SEC school for a tournament In three of head coach
Steve Loeswick's four years. In 2012, UNF went to SEC-newcomer Missouri for the Tiger Invitational. The Ospreys went to Georgia in 2013 for the Benson's Group Invitational.
SEC Roots: Head coach
Steve Loeswick, assistant coach
Samantha Dabbs and sophomore transfer
Katarina Raicevic have an SEC connection as all three were at LSU. Loeswick was an assistant coach, while Dabbs and Raicevic each played for the Tigers.
Serve Away: Junior
Kimberly Ferguson served six of UNF's 10 aces in the Ospreys match at FIU on Aug. 28. Ferguson's six aces are the second-highest for a single match in the Atlantic Sun this season.
Scouting Tennessee Tech: Is a young team with one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen... comes off an 0-3 weekend at the Wright State Invitational... begins this weekend's tournament against Tennessee on Thursday night... most of last week's offense came from Kellie Williams (37 kills) and Cody Dodd (34 kills)... Shaneice James came up with 10 total blocks during the Wright State Invitational, including six solo... Allison Morrett averaged 3.92 digs per set last weekend.
UNF-Tennessee Tech Series: UNF leads 1-0 after winning 3-2 on Sept. 4, 2009 at the Appalachian State Invitational.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky: Started the season 0-4 after dropping three matches at the Chattanooga Classic and falling in a mid-week match... comes off a 3-1 Tuesday night setback at Marshall... Celina Sanks leads the team with 40 kills and a 2.86 kill-per-set average... operates on a two-setter system with Johanna Boyer (70 assists/5.00 assists per set) and Cassie Knutson (57 assists/4.75 assists per set)... Chloe Rojas averages 3.79 digs per set.
UNF-EKU Series: First Meeting.
Scouting Tennessee: Only team to enter the weekend undefeated... went 4-0 at last weekend's season-opening Towson Invitational... swept three of its four matches last weekend... only non-sweep was a 3-2 decision against host Towson... Kanisha Jimenez paces Tennessee with 49 kills and 3.50 kills per set and is also hitting .336... Lexi Dempsey averages 10.14 assists per set, while Bridgette Villano is averaging 4.08 digs per set.
UNF-Tennessee Series: First Meeting.
Scouting UNC Greensboro: Enters the weekend with a 2-1 record... all three matches during season-opening weekend had 3-0 results... comes off sweeps of Hampton and Fairleigh Dickinson to conclude the Liberty Invitational... Julia Westerbur (27 kills), Jessica Brezwyn (25 kills) and Ashley Muench (25 kills) account for 66.9 percent of the team's kills... Katherine Santiago averaged 4.33 digs per set last weekend.
UNF-UNCG Series: UNC Greensboro leads 1-0 after winning 3-1 on Sept. 14, 2013 at the Benson's Group Invitational.
