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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Following seven matches in three different states and two time zones, North Florida comes home for the UNF Invitational this weekend. The Ospreys host Furman, New Mexico and USC Upstate, opening their weekend against the Lobos on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. Friday, September 7.
The invitational is presented by the
Courtyard Marriott Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
Tickets:
Tickets for each DAY are $5 for adults and $3 for groups 10 and over. Students with a valid Osprey1 Card and infants two and under are free.
For more information click here or call (904) 620-BIRD (2473).
Schedule and Game Coverage
What: UNF Invitational Presented by Courtyard Marriott Mayo Clinic
Where: University of North Florida - UNF Arena
When: Friday, Sept. 7 - Saturday, Sept. 8 (All times EST)
Friday, Sept. 7
Saturday, Sept. 8
Last Time Out
It may have been the inaugural intercollegiate event hosted by Georgia Southern at their newly consolidated Armstrong Alumni arena in Savannah, Ga., but the night ended as the first win on the season for the Ospreys and first-year head coach Kristen Wright Tuesday, September 4.
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UNF (1-6) brought down the Eagles, 3-1, receiving double-digits in kills from three players in the win Tuesday, September 4.
No Pushovers
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UNF has already faced one ranked opponent (No. 15 Colorado) and two more squads (Wyoming and Tennessee) that have appeared in the national rankings.
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Last weekend the navy and gray joined Michigan State (previously ranked No. 22) as the only other team to take a set from the 6-0 Lady Vols this season.
Old Foes, New Foes
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North Florida faces an old Peach Belt and ASUN Conference foe in USC Upstate and one that they've never battled in New Mexico.
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The Ospreys are 35-9 against the Spartans and 0-2 against the Paladins of Furman. UNF's match against UNM marks the second of three times the Ospreys face a Mountain West opponent this season.
Leading With Youth
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North Florida's 16-player squad features eight returners and eight newcomers, including two transfers with previous experience at the collegiate level.
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Seven newcomers have seen experience thus far, and UNF has played an average of over 12 players per contest this season.
How May I Assist You?
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If you take into account senior setter Madilyn McCarty's time at Winthrop as a freshman, the Springfield, Ill., native would be fifth in assists at UNF.
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McCarty dished out 54 against Georgia Southern Tuesday, two shy of her career high.
Two-for-Two
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Junior middle blocker Taryn Griffey has earned all-tournament honors at the Rumble in the Rockies and at the Rocky Top Invitational.
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Redshirt-sophomore Gabby O'Connell has posted a double-double in consecutive matches,
Taking the Reigns
Good Host
Scouting Report
Furman Paladins |
Statistics |
Roster
The Basics
- Greenville, S.C.
- Southern Conference (SoCon)
- 2018 Record: 1-5
- 2017 Record: 21-10, 14-2 SoCon
- SoCon Preseason Ranking: First
- Head Coach: Michelle Young (19th season)
- Head-to-head: Furman leads, 2-0
- Last Meeting: UNF 3, Furman 1 - Duke Invitational August 29, 2014
- The Paladins are highly touted in the Southern Conference. They stand as defending regular-season champions and also claim the honor as preseason favorite.
- Head coach Michelle Young returns as 2017 SoCon Coach of the Year.
- Furman brings back 11 letterwinners, six starters and a quartet of all-conference honorees.
- Furman is coming off their first win of the season, a 3-0 sweep of Georgia State in Chicago at the Hampton Inn Rambler Invitational Saturday, September 1.
New Mexico |
Statistics |
Roster
The Basics
- Albuquerque, N.M.
- Mountain West Conference
- 2018 Record: 3-3
- 2017 Record: 16-16, 7-11 Mountain West
- Mountain West Preseason Ranking: Fifth
- Head Coach: Jeff Nelson (12th season)
- Head-to-head: 0-0
- This is the first meeting between these two squads, and the second of three Mountain West opponents on UNF's 2018 schedule.
- The Lobos overcame UNF-rival Florida Gulf Coast with a 3-1 victory at the Lobo Classic Friday, August 31. UNM Senior outside hitter Carly Beddingfield earned MVP honors for the weekend tournament.
- Junior outside hitter Tai Bierria has registered a double-double in every match this season.
USC Upstate |
Statistics |
Roster
The Basics
- Spartanburg, S.C.
- Big South Conference
- 2018 Record: 1-6
- 2017 Record: 8-21, 4-10 Big South
- Big South Preseason Ranking: Seventh
- Head Coach: Jennifer Calloway (23rd season)
- Head-to-head: UNF leads, 35-9
- Last Meeting: UNF 3, USC Upstate 0 - at UNF November 10, 2017
- With 44 matches against one another in series history, UNF has faced USC Upstate more times than any other team. The two teams were rivals in both the Peach Belt Conference ASUN Conference before the Spartans transitioned to the Big South before the 2018 season.
- Head coach Jennifer Calloway has a storied career as a player and coach in Spartanburg. She is second in career wins (339), trailing Joe Bowman for the most all-time. She leads a squad that returns eight letterwinners and four starters.
- The Spartans secured their first win of 2018, a 3-0 sweep of NC A&T at home Wednesday, September 5.
Wright's Words:
"Our goal is to have a balanced attack and hit a high efficiency, and last night [at Georgia Southern] Madilyn made a huge step forward in creating those one-on-ones...this weekend is an opportunity to get better and share with our community and our school and show what we are about."
What's Next?
It'll be a quick turnaround for UNF as it hosts North Dakota for a 6 p.m. first serve Monday, September 10 at the UNF Arena. From there the Ospreys go south to Boca Raton for the Owls Classic at Florida Atlantic Friday, September 14 through Saturday, September 15.
