JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Ospreys return from a five-match road trip in the hunt for an appearance in the ASUN Volleyball Championship when it hosts Kennesaw State and Lipscomb.
General admission tickets for Friday's match are $5.00 while students with a valid Osprey1 card and infants two and under are admitted at no cost. All fans are admitted free of charge for Saturday's match against Lipscomb.
What, Where and When
- UNF vs. Kennesaw State | UNF Arena | Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m.
- UNF vs. Lipscomb | UNF Arena | Saturday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
Game Coverage
Last Time Out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida only needed the minimum for the second consecutive time against Jacksonville, downing the Dolphins (3-21, 2-10 ASUN) in straight sets to complete a season-sweep of their rivals and garner another crucial-conference win.
- The Ospreys (9-17, 4-7 ASUN) hit .297, Gabby O'Connell had a team-high 13 kills.
Climbing the Ranks
- Senior setter Madilyn McCarty has hit a myriad of milestones this season.
- She first surpassed 3,000 career assists, then notched 2,000 assists wearing the Navy and Gray, and after posting 31 assists Tuesday she moved into sixth all-time in career assists (2,092) at North Florida.
Dangerous Duo
- Junior Taryn Griffey is ranked fifth in the ASUN for kills, while redshirt-sophomore Gabby O'Connell is slotted sixth.
- That is the highest combined ranking for any duo in the conference.
Where We Stand
- Six of the nine ASUN teams make the ASUN Volleyball Championship.
- UNF is currently sixth in the league, two games ahead both NJIT and Jacksonville in the win column.
- UNF has five matches remaining, JU has four matches and NJIT has another six to play.
Wright's Words
"As for this weekend we play two solid teams, and we contended with both on their home floor. Executing a game plan while exploiting what they give us offensively will be key for us. We also want to step up our defense and stay in control of the serve and receive. Our sideout game will be crucial as well."
Scouting Report
Kennesaw State |
Statistics |
Roster
- 2018 Record: 19-4, 10-0 ASUN
- 2017 Record: 21-5, 13-1 ASUN
- Head Coach: Keith Schunzel (Sixth season)
- Head-to-head: Kennesaw State leads, 14-7
- Last Meeting: Kennesaw State won, 3-1, October 7 at Kennesaw State
- The Owls are undefeated in conference play and already clinched an ASUN Tournament berth with a sweep of NJIT Sunday, Oct. 21.
- KSU has been taken to five sets only once during conference action. They needed the maximum at Lipscomb Wednesday, Oct. 17.
Players to Watch
- Sophomore Quin Sutphin had quite the week. Last week she was named the ASUN Player and Defensive Player of the Week, the first time a KSU player has earned a sweep of those two laurels. She had an 11-kill, 12-block double-double at Lipscomb, the first double-double of its kind in program history.
- Classmate Lauren Chastang is fourth in the league in kills/set (3.47).
Lipscomb Bisons |
Statistics |
Roster
- 2018 Record: 13-9, 8-2 ASUN
- 2017 Record: 16-13, 8-6 ASUN
- Head Coach: Brandon Rosenthal (15th season)
- Head-to-head: Lipscomb leads 20-3
- Last Meeting: Lipscomb won, 3-1, September 28
- The Bisons are third in the ASUN, with both of their losses coming against the teams further up the conference leaderboard. Lipscomb fell to Kennesaw State, 3-2, and FGCU, 3-1, earlier this year.
- Lipscomb is 8-1 at home although they are 3-4 when away from Nashville. It is coming off back-to-back wins against NJIT and North Alabama as they've gone 3-2 over the last five.
Players to Watch
- Outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum is a force. She leads the ASUN in kills/set (4.10) and is third in the conference in kills (320).
