Early Lead Escapes Ospreys at Liberty

Sunday, October 21

Lynchburg, Va.

1:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

8-18, 3-7ASUN

Liberty

10-13, 7-3ASUN

North Florida

Liberty

Taryn Griffey and Solimar Cestero leap to block an attack attempt at the net.

Griffey (left) led the Ospreys with 11 kills Sunday.

10/21/2018 4:16:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. - North Florida came out firing, hitting .345 to grab the 1-0 lead, but Liberty replied by taking the next three sets and the match Sunday, Oct. 21.

Liberty 3, UNF 1 | 25-23, 15-25, 22-25, 13-25 | Box Score

Behind the Box Score

Three points was the largest lead in a set that saw nine ties before UNF (8-18, 3-8 ASUN) edged Liberty, 25-23. Tied at 22, UNF benefited from a Liberty (10-13, 7-3 ASUN) attack error before sophomore Devyn Wheeler and rookie Kirby Smith finished the seesaw set with consecutive kills.
The Ospreys hit .345 in the opening frame and were led by junior Taryn Griffey's five kills. Redshirt-sophomore Gabby O'Connell mixed up her attacks, notching four kills in the first frame.
Little could be done to get in the way of the Lady Flames' second-set efficiency. LU registered a .440 hitting percentage and UNF was held to eight kills as Liberty evened up the match.
The Ospreys put up six blocks in the third set, although Liberty countered with 17 kills. UNF won a key challenge to reel a 21-18 deficit back to 20-19. Liberty's Anna Gragg lifted her team with three kills to close the door.
Both teams had 5-0 runs in the third frame. Liberty had two, while the Ospreys had one.
The fourth set started with three net violations. Liberty sported its best offensive set in the fourth frame to pull away, hitting .478.

Leaders By the Numbers

Griffey | 11 kills
Madilyn McCarty | 35 assists
O'Connell | Eight digs

Notes

Sunday was Griffey's 15th double-digit kill outing of the year.
LU's Casey Goodwin registered a career-high 25 kills.
Emma Dixon's .667 hitting percentage set a season high (minimum five attacks). She led all players for the match.
Four of the top five blocking leaders were Ospreys. Wheeler, McCarty and Griffey had four apiece, while Dixon had three.
McCarty now has 2,061 assists, 30 helpers shy of sixth in UNF history.

Wright's Words
"Hats off to Goodwin and Gragg, they played tremendously for Liberty. We won the serve and pass game again against one of the best serving teams in conference."

Up Next
Part two of the River City Rumble is set for 7 p.m. at Jacksonville Tuesday, Oct. 23.