JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball opens its 2017 slate this weekend in the Gamecock Invitational. Friday's action begins 4:30 p.m. when the Ospreys battle Troy before taking on Mercer and South Carolina on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. 
 

Game Details
Date	Friday, Aug. 25 | Saturday, Aug. 26
Time	4:30 p.m. (Fri.) | 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. (Sat.)
Location	Columbia, S.C. (Carolina Volleyball Center)
Opponents	Troy (Fri.) | Mercer and South Carolina (Sat.)
Tournament Central	Link

2017 Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Kills: Gabby O'Connell (397), Katarina Raicevic (268)
Assists: Madilyn McCarty (849), Carinne Turner (231)
Digs: Ashley LaBorde (319), Gabby O'Connell (310)
Blocks: Katarina Raicevic (72.0), Gabby O'Connell (54.0)

OPENING SERVE
Head coach Steve Loeswick heads into his seventh year at the Ospreys' helm alongside newly promoted associate head coach Samantha Dabbs, while Skylar Lopas returns for his second season with North Florida. On the court, UNF returns the 2016 ASUN Freshman of the Year in Gabby O'Connell and she was also named to the preseason all-conference team. North Florida looks to seniors Katarina Raicevic, Carina Hoff, Sadie Thurston and Carinne Turner to lead the team.

Opponent Thoughts with Coach
"It's a great challenge as all three have very good programs and coaches. We start Friday with Troy and it will be an interesting opening match to see how we can get going. We are familiar with Mercer from their time in the ASUN and we have familiarity with some of their players, but it will be a great challenge. Then we get the chance to play South Carolina on their home court and that is a challenge we look forward to taking on."

Loeswick's Preseason Note
"It's been a very productive preseason as the team came in with the right mentality and prepared to work. We have gotten better every single day we've gone into the gym which is obviously our goal during the preseason. We understand it's going to be a long process with six new faces into the program and getting them up to speed on what all we expect from each of them."

OPPONENTS

• Troy comes into the 2017 season after a 10-23 record last year and were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Eastern Division this season. The Trojans are led by Reina Terry who leads Troy's top returning players with 841 assists.
• Mercer enters posted a 15-14 record last year and were picked to finish seventh in the preseason Southern Conference coaches poll. The Bears are led by Paige Alsten, a preseason all-conference selection, who led the team in blocks a year ago.
• The host South Carolina comes is coming off an 18-12 record and were picked seventh in the SEC. The Gamecocks are led by Preseason All-SEC selection Mikayla Shields after leading Carolina with 341 kills last year.

SERIES HISTORY
The Ospreys hold a 3-0 record over Troy while leading 13-7 in all meetings against Mercer. South Carolina grabbed the win in the only meeting between the two schools.

Positional Breakdown

Middle Blockers
The Ospreys return Taryn Griffey in the middle this season after she had a successful opening season with North Florida and she will be joined by Alana Shoff who transferred in from Appalachian State.

Loeswick's Thoughts: "Even though we have a young group, they are very capable and we think very highly of them. Alana has some DI experience at Appalachian State last season, Taryn had a great spring and is ready to explode for us this season. Devyn is a great young player who is getting a lot of experience at multiple positions and can give a break to Alana and Taryn."

Right Side
The Ospreys return their most experience at right side with Hoff and Raicevic. Raicevic is coming off a year where she finished second on the team with 268 kills and a hit percentage of .201. Hoff returns for her final year with the Ospreys after playing just eight matches in 2016 before a season ending injury however prior to the injury she amassed 100 kills and a hit percentage of .259.

Loeswick's Thoughts: "I believe that Katarina and Carina are two of the best right sides in the conference and I would feel comfortable with either starting or any other combination that would help us be successful."

Outside Hitters
Gabby O'Connell comes back after a successful rookie season that saw her tally a team-best 397 kills while averaging 3.34 kills per set. She is joined outside by Raicevic, Devyn Wheeler and Carinne Turner.

Loeswick's Thoughts: "We spent a lot of time on our serve and pass and I'm happy with the direction our passing is going. Gabby is a great player who had a great season last year and Carinne and Katarina have both been in the program for awhile and it should be a great competition between all of the group as a whole."
 
Setters
The Ospreys return Madilyn McCarty at the setters position this season as she led the team last season with 849 assists to rank fifth in the ASUN. Sadie Thurston returns for her senior season and newcomer Kaileen Herman joins the group.

Loeswick's Thoughts: "Maddie came into preseason in great form and has done a great job in preparing for the season and Sadie will challenge her every day as she is extremely consistent throughout her time at UNF.
 
DS/Libero
Junior Ashley LaBorde leads the libero's this season with freshman Callie Workman and junior transfer Asante Lopez looking to compete for time with LaBorde. 

Loeswick's Thoughts: "Ashley is a great libero and we are excited to get her back this season and we're looking forward to her having a very successful season. Adding Callie and Asante to the mix has brought some more competition to the position."

UP NEXT
Following the opening weekend in Columbia, the Ospreys return home for the regular season home opener on Wednesday, Aug. 30 against Savannah State at 7 p.m. inside UNF Arena.