JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball heads to Atlanta to take part in the Georgia Tech Invitational featuring Kansas State, Georgia Tech and Xavier.
| Game Details |
| Date |
Thursday, Sept. 7 | Friday, Sept. 8 |
| Time |
8 p.m. (Thurs.) | 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. (Fri) |
| Location |
Atlanta, Ga. (O'Keefe Gymnasium) |
| Opponents |
Kansas State (Thurs) | Georgia Tech & Xavier (Fri.) |
| Links |
Stats (Thurs.) | Stats (Fri vs GT) | Video (vs GT) | Stats (vs Xavier) |
OPENING SERVE
The Ospreys are coming off of a 1-2 weekend at the Battle In the Boro where they defeated Bethune-Cookman, but fell to Charlotte and host Georgia Southern.
NOTES
- The Blue and Gray enter the weekend ranked 21st in the nation with 67 blocks led by Alana Shoff. The junior has 38 to rank 13th in the country. The Ospreys are 47th in the country with 2.58 blocks per set to top the ASUN.
- Sophomore Taryn Griffey enters the weekend ranked third in the ASUN with her .321 hitting percentage, while Shoff sits in seventh with a .279 hitting percentage.
- Coming off of her season-high 44 assists in the Ospreys win over Bethune-Cookman, junior Madilyn McCarty checks in at sixth in total assists with 164 on the season. McCarty owns five matches with at least 20 assists.
QUOTABLES
"This weekend will be both a great test and opportunity to challenge ourselves with all three teams being very physical and quality opponents. We are excited to get on the court and see where we stand but also force ourselves to be uncomfortable and to have to play at a level that we are capable of playing at and continue to grow as the season goes on." - Coach
Steve Loeswick
"This has been the best team that I have been a part of here as I feel we have all worked together really well. We have some challenging opponents coming up in the next few matches and I am excited to see what we can come together and accomplish." – Junior
Madilyn McCarty
OPPONENTS
- Kansas State is on a three match losing streak after dropping three matches in their home tournament including a straight set loss to #6 Wisconsin. Sarah Dixon leads the Wildcats with 196 assists while Kylee Zumach has a team-high 65 kills.
- Georgia Tech enters the weekend with a 2-5 mark as it was winless in tournament action as the Yellow Jackets fell to two top 20 teams (Texas and San Diego). Gabriela Stavnetchei leads Georgia Tech with 3.48 kills per set and 87 kills.
- Xavier owns a 4-3 record after going 1-2 in its tournament last weekend. The Musketeers lead the Big East in digs per set, assists, digs, kills and total attacks. Individually, Kristen Massa owns team highs with 10.93 attacks per set, 3.56 kills per set, 4.22 points per set, 102 total digs and 96 total kills.
SERIES HISTORY
The Ospreys and Wildcats meet on Thursday night for the first time in program history.
UNF and Georgia Tech have met on two prior occasions with the Yellow Jackets taking both meetings including a straight set victory last season.
The Blue and Gray have dropped their only meeting with Xavier coming back in September of 2006 as the Musketeers won it in four sets.
UP NEXT
Following the weekend in Atlanta, the Ospreys return to the court for their final three match tournament of the season on Friday September 15 as they head to New Orleans for the Tulane Invite. The Ospreys face Northwestern State, Alabama State and Tulane. The Ospreys home match with Georgia Southern originally slated for next Tuesday September 12th has been postponed due to concerns with Hurricane Irma.
