Volleyball Splits Pair of Matches on Final Day of UNF Invitational

Saturday, September 8

Jacksonville, Fla.

1:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-7

USC Upstate

1-8

USC Upstate

North Florida

Lopez earned spot on the all-tournament team, posting 65 digs and 10 assists.

Volleyball Splits Pair of Matches on Final Day of UNF Invitational

9/8/2018 10:23:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Ospreys Roll USC Upstate Before Nightcap Loss to Furman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida notched double-digit blocks for the second time in two matches to top USC Upstate, 3-1, although a balanced Furman attack upended the Ospreys, 3-1, stymying UNF's chance at a sweep on the final day of the UNF Invitational Saturday, September 8.

Match 1: UNF 3, USC Upstate 1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17) | Box Score
After facing New Mexico for the first time in school history last night, UNF (2-8) took on the Spartans (1-8) for the 45th time in school history. With a 3-1 win, UNF now has 36 victories against Upstate, the most wins against any team in head-to-head play.

Behind the Box Score

Sophomore Devyn Wheeler provided four kills in the opening set as UNF hit .357 for one of their most efficient sets on the weekend. The Ospreys never trailed in the first set as senior setter Madilyn McCarty was in a rhythm, dishing out 13 assists.
The Ospreys lone blemish in the final line came in the second set. Despite hitting better than the Spartans, Upstate posted two few errors, proving to be the difference.
Upstate clung to the momentum for most of the third set, leading all the way until relinquishing the lead via a kill from senior Taryn Griffey, putting UNF ahead, 22-21. Freshman Solimar Cestero celebrated a birthday Saturday and helped the Ospreys celebrate a third-set win with a kill and service ace on consecutive plays.
Cestero, sophomore Gabby O'Connell and Wheeler were sharing the wealth in set three, generating three kills apiece to secure the match. Upstate hit just .093, the third time on the afternoon that the Spartans hit below .100 for a set.

By the Numbers
O'Connell recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, McCarty notched her third and four players posted double-digit kills. Wheeler was among that group, generating a season-best 11 kills.

O'Connell | 13 kills, 18 digs
Cestero | 12 kills, three block assists
Wheeler | 11 kills, five block assists
Griffey | 12 kills, five block assists
McCarty | 44 assists, 11 digs
UNF posted 14 blocks against New Mexico and 13 against USC Upstate.

Match 2: Furman 3, UNF 1 (26-24, 19-25, 19-25, 18-25) | Box Score
McCarty and Griffey were jiving in the first set, posting 13 assists and five kills respectively, but the Paladins (4-5) stormed back to take the final three sets in the nightcap. The Southern Conference preseason favorite Paladins (4-5) were balanced, receiving a game-high 18 kills from Madison Greshman as part of four players in double-digit kills.

Behind the Box Score

Both teams were connecting well in the opening set. UNF hit .333, strong enough to stave off a Furman squad that held off New Mexico in five sets earlier in the day. The Ospreys took a 5-1 advantage to open the set, but Furman quickly erased that. The lead was shared the rest of the set, but late kills from Griffey and Wheeler sealed set one.
The Paladins were just a little sharper in the final three sets, hitting .341 and .316 respectively in the middle sets, while forcing seven fewer errors.

By the Numbers

Griffey | 13 kills (has at least 10 kills in nine of 10 matches)
Cestero | 12 kills (fifth-consecutive double-digit kill performance)
McCarty | 37 assist, 12 dig double-double - her fourth in a row.
Alana Shoff | season-high six kills

All-Tournament Team
Seniors Asante Lopez and Madilyn McCarty were selected to the All-UNF Invitational Tournament Team. Lopez collected 65 digs while McCarty provided 131 assists, 34 digs, 14 block assists and 14 kills.

Wright's Words:
"We got the feedback from this weekend to know where to focus as a team technically and tactically," head coach Kristen Wright said. "Our biggest growth area is in playing with a fire in our belly and playing relentless. Our leaders are still learning how to lead effectively. There is a lot of season left and our goal is to keep improving in the areas vital for us to win."

Up Next:
The Ospreys keep it at the UNF Arena for a 6 p.m. first serve Monday, September 10 against North Dakota.