Volleyball | 11/2/2017 1:12:00 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball embarks on its final regular season road trip this weekend when it travels to Kennesaw State and Lipscomb.
OPENING SERVE
The Ospreys look to build on their momentum after coming off of back-to-back victories in five sets over FGCU and a sweep of Stetson.
NOTES
- Following her ASUN Player & Freshman of the week awards, Devyn Wheeler enters Friday with 125 kills in conference play putting her in sixth place. Wheeler set a season-high with 22 kills in UNF's victory over FGCU last Friday.
- North Florida remains atop the league in blocking, Alana Shoff has 108 rejections to pace the ASUN, while Taryn Griffey is third with 82 blocks. Carina Hoff adds to the block line with 69 stops.
- Ashley LaBorde continues her dependability on defense carrying an ASUN leading 448 digs into the weekend. She is just 10 digs away from 1,000 for her career at UNF. LaBorde looks to become the 13th Osprey to reach this milestone, and first since Kimberly Ferguson did it last year.
- Katarina Raicevic tops North Florida with 28 aces, which ties her for second in the ASUN. She has 16 aces in league play, including one in each of the past six contests highlighted by season-high matching four against Stetson.
QUOTABLES
- "We definitely have a challenge this weekend with a pair of quality opponents, but we have the advantage of already playing them before. I am excited with the passion and energy are team is playing with right now and we look to keep that going. This group has continued to get better as the year has gone on and with winning last weekend our confidence has definitely grown." - Coach Steve Loeswick
- "I feel that last weekend was a huge turning point for us, and things are starting to come together. We are definitely growing as a team and playing together and continue to build momentum. " – Asante Lopez
OPPONENTS
- Kennesaw State enters Friday's contest with a 15-4 record as it has won its last six ASUN matches.
- Liesl Engelbrecht paces the Owls attack with a .349 hitting percentage putting her second in the league. In conference play, Anaiah Boyer sits in fifth with 128 kills while averaging 3.56 kills per set.
- Lipscomb carries a 13-10 mark into the weekend after picking up a pair of straight set victories over USC Upstate and NJIT last time out.
- The Bisons are led by Carlyle Nusbaum, who has an ASUN leading 379 kills, ranking her 28th in the nation. She also sits seventh nationally in kills per set with 4.80.
SERIES HISTORY
- On Friday, the Ospreys and Owls play for the 20th time with Kennesaw holding a 12-7 series advantage after picking up a four-set win earlier this season.
- North Florida looks to flip the script against Lipscomb as it trails in the series 17-3. The Bisons taking have claimed the last nine meetings from the Blue and Gray.
UP NEXT
- UNF returns home to close out the regular season welcoming USC Upstate and NJIT for senior weekend. The Ospreys battle Upstate Friday at 7 p.m. before hosting NJIT at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Senior day festivities will take place following Saturday's contest.
