NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Despite several career-highs from the Ospreys, fifth-seeded USC Upstate outlasted fourth-seeded North Florida volleyball, 3-1, in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament as the Ospreys concluded their season in Allen Arena on Thursday evening.

Ferguson becomes the fourth player in Division I history to record 1,000 digs. The senior finishes her career with 1,028 thanks to her career-best and team's season-high 36 against the Spartans.

TOP PERFORMERS
Gabby O'Connell - 21 kills, 16 digs
Katarina Raicevic - 11 kills, career-high 20 digs
Kimberly Ferguson - Career-high 36 Digs
Madilyn McCarty - 55 assists, 13 digs
Morgan Van Alstine - 13 kills, 4 blocks

QUICK HITS
- Ferguson's dig total is third in the UNF record book in four-set performances and her career best. The last time a player had more than 30 in a four-set match was in 2006 with former assistant coach Tara Sundquist digging up 42 balls.
- The team's 102 digs tie for the fourth-best in a four-set match. North Florida has only had 100 or more digs one other time in the Division I era.
- O'Connell recorded 20+ kills for just the second time this season and the first against an ASUN opponent.
- Raicevic totaled her third double-double of the year and had a career-best 20 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams jumped back and fourth through the first 30 points with neither team taking more than a two point lead. With the score knotted at 16-all, the Spartans went on a 6-2 error to force a UNF timeout. Out of the break, the ospreys slammed down a kill and closed the gap to 23-21. After a Spartans timeout, a kill and black gave them the opening set victory.

In the second set, UNF held the lead until 20-18 when Upstate went on a 6-2 run to take a 24-22 lead. Erin Edwards took the point on set point, but a service error on the next serve gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead. 

The Ospreys were not finished and came back in the third frame. The teams tied the score nine times with the final one coming at 13-all. The Ospreys then jumped on an 8-2 run aided by five kills including three from Van Alstine. The Spartans pulled to within two at 23-21, but back-to-back kills from O'Connell and Raicevic gave UNF the victory.

With the score tied 10 times until late into the match at 22-22 neither team gained full momentum. Two straight kills from the Spartans followed by a UNF miscue gave Upstate its first ever postseason victory.

LOOKING AHEAD
North Florida loses Van Alstine, Edwards and Ferguson to graduation, but returns all-conference performer Raicevic and ASUN Freshman of the Year Gabby O'Connell. In addition, Carina Hoff will remain on the Osprey bench for the 2017 season.