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Jacksonville, Fla. - The North Florida Ospreys Volleyball program will take to the air and the road to complete the 1,850 mile trek to Laramie, Wyoming to begin the 2018 season at the University of Wyoming's Rumble in the Rockies tournament.
The two-day tournament features No. 15 Colorado, North Florida, Oral Roberts and host Wyoming.
Schedule and Match Coverage
What: Rumble in the Rockies
Where: University of Wyoming (All matches played at the UW Arena-Auditorium)
When: Friday, Aug. 24 - Saturday, Aug. 25 (all times EST)
Friday, Aug. 24
Saturday, Aug. 25
A New Era
After taking over as the Director of Volleyball in December of 2017, UNF head coach Kristen Wright helped propel the Ospreys to its most wins in conference play during the beach volleyball season, something the California native will hope to replicate in her first season of Division I indoor competition.
Wright touts a successful four-year stint leading the indoor and beach volleyball programs at Miracosta College (Oceanside, Calif.) to five conference titles and a state championship in her most recent stop.
Helping direct the Ospreys from the sideline are assistant coaches Skylar Lopas (third season) and Kevin Inlow (first season). Former North Florida standout indoor and beach volleyball player Emily Strack will serve as the director of volleyball operations after returning to North Florida as an assistant beach coach last year.
Eight and Eight
North Florida's 16-player squad features eight returners and eight newcomers, including two transfers with previous experience at the collegiate level. UNF finished fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference last year (13-9, 5-9 ASUN), losing second-team performer Ashley Laborde while returning all-freshman honoree sophomore Devyn Wheeler.
"It's a new year, new staff, new culture and philosophy," said Wright. "We have just as many new faces as returners. our girls pu in long hours growing mentally, physically and emotionally. I cannot wait to put our efforts to the test."
In All Phases
Wheeler helps headline an attack that returns three of its top-five offensive threats from the 2017 campaign. The Carrollton, Texas native led UNF with 291 kills a year ago, followed up by junior Taryn Griffey's 283.
- Senior Alana Shoff also provided 151 kills and is the projected leading force at the net with 127 blocks a season ago.
- Griffey was no slouch up front either, registering 96 blocks.
Sophomore
Callie Workman produced in her freshman season and will likely be relied on heavily as a defensive specialist in 2018. Workman generated 182 digs in 104 sets played as a rookie and also chipped in with 11 aces, helping the Ospreys finish third in the ASUN in that category. After transferring from Winthrop following an All-Big South selection in 2015, senior setter
Madilyn McCarty has been a mainstay at UNF, recording 1,241 assists, including a career-high 849 in 2016. Outside hitter
Asante Lopez rounds out North Florida's trio of seniors and will provide depth and experience after seeing action in 29 matches last year.
"We're well prepared for the opening weekend," Wright said. "The key for us is focusing on us. Our serve and pass game will be key in utilizing our offense."
She's Back
The Ospreys will be excited to have redshirt-sophomore
Gabby O'Connell back on the court after she missed all of the 2017 campaign with a medical redshirt ushered on by a preseason injury. The Gainesville, Fla. native reeled in an ASUN-record five freshman of the week accolades, the ASUN Freshman of the Year award and ASUN All-Conference Second Team laurels in 2016.
Scouting Report
Wyoming Cowgirls
- Head-to-head | 0-1
- Last meeting | L, 1-3 at the College of Charleston Invitational (Sept. 16, 2011)
- Wyoming's win was later vacated due to NCAA violations
- Preseason ranking | Second in the Mountain West Preseason Poll
- Returners | Nine letterwinners including six starters plus the libero.
Wyoming is led by head coach Chad Callihan who is 102-55 since arriving in Laramie five years ago. Callihan's Cowgirls finished 17-14 and 12-6 in Mountain West play last season, competing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) before falling to TCU in the first round.
Redshirt sophomore Jackie McBride, junior Tara Traphagan and sophomore Marissa Harmon were All-MW selections a year ago.
No. 15 Colorado Buffaloes
- Head-to-head | 0-0
- Preseason ranking | Fifth in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll
- CU's No. 15 ranking is its highest in preseason ranking since 1998.
- Returners | Seven letterwinners and four starters
The Buffaloes went 24-10 and 12-8 in the Pac-12 last year, finishing the year on a hot streak that brought them all the way to the NCAA Regional Semifinals and a No. 19 ranking. Head coach Jesse Mahoney will lead all-americans, senior Alexa Smith and sophomore Brynna DeLuzio, into his third year in Boulder.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
- Head-to-head | 0-0
- Preseason ranking | Fifth in the Summit League Preseason Poll
- Returners | Two starters plus a libero
Sheera Sirola directs ORU as the longest-tenured head coach in the weekend tournament, going 270-193 in 15 seasons in Tulsa. Last year the Golden Eagles placed second in the Summit League with an 11-3 conference record, reaching postseason competition for the first time since 2006 with an entry in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. ORU is the first of three Summit League opponents on North Florida's schedule this year as the Ospreys will host North Dakota Monday, Sept. 10 and later take on South Dakota State Friday, Sept. 14 in Boca Raton.
What's Next?
Looking ahead, the Ospreys will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. for the Rocky Top Invitational Friday, Aug. 31 to Saturday, Sept. 1. UNF will face Indiana State, Tennessee and Winthrop.
