Ospreys Upended by Streaking Kennesaw State Squad

Friday, October 26

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

9-19, 4-8ASUN

Kennesaw State

20-4, 11-0ASUN

Kennesaw State

North Florida

Gabby O'Connell gets in position to dig the volleyball.

O'Connell hit .500 in the third set, posting 10 kills for the match.

10/26/2018 9:04:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Gabby O’Connell Hits a Season-High .381 in Loss

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Redshirt-sophomore Gabby O'Connell had her most efficient night of the season, although Kennesaw State (20-4, 11-0) got in the way and kept its ASUN-winning streak alive with a three-set triumph Friday, Oct. 26.

Kennesaw State 3, UNF 0 | 17-25, 17-25, 20-25 | Box Score

Behind the Box Score

A five-point UNF (9-19, 4-9) slide put the Owls up 5-1 in the first set. KSU's Lauren Chastang generated six kills with the help of 15 assists from Lexi Broadwater as the Owls clung to their lead the rest the frame.
O'Connell began to heat up in the second set, putting away five kills on nine attacks. KSU countered with its best-hitting set of the match as it won by the same score in the second session.
The two teams traded points over a 14-point sequence, but the Owls' 8-4 start to the final frame allowed for enough cushion to fend off UNF's late push. O'Connell was even stronger in the third, hitting .500 with another five putaways.

Leaders By the Numbers

O'Connell | 10 kills, .381 hitting percentage
Madilyn McCarty | 23 assists, seven digs
Devyn Wheeler | Four blocks

Notes

O'Connell has 16 matches in double figures for kills. Her .381 hitting percentage was a season-high, surpassing her .343 mark set in a 3-0 win against Bethune-Cookman September 18. Her previous career high came as a freshman when she poured in 23 kills on 48 attempts to hit .396 in a 3-1 rout of Bethune-Cookman October 4, 2016.
McCarty's seven digs pushed her over 200 for the year. UNF has four players over that benchmark. Senior Asante Lopez is nearing in with 190.
KSU's Lexi Broadwater served up 43 assists, putting her past 1,000 on the season. She came into play ranked sixth in the country in assists. McCarty is next in line for assists in the ASUN with 874.
Chastang finished with a 12-kill, 14-dig double-double.
Kennesaw State served five aces despite nine service errors.

Wright's Words
"They pass very well and were able to run everyone, and they served very effectively. They served to the right people and in the right spots, off the whistle. There are some little things that we can pick up, and it starts with leadership and mentality. I thought that Madilyn McCarty did a nice job with how we passed, and she made the right choices. The next step is to mature as a squad and be efficient as we fight for a spot in the tournament."

Up Next
The Ospreys are back in action at the UNF Arena in less than 24 hours as they host Lipscomb at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.