JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The North Florida volleyball team knocked the conference's leading team off the top of the standings with a resilient and efficient showing, downing Kennesaw State (15-7, 8-2), 3-1, Sunday, Oct. 27 from the UNF Arena.
UNF (11-14, 4-6 ASUN) ushered the Owls into 22 errors, while the Ospreys hit .307 and committed 12 fewer attack miscues. It was North Florida's first win against the Owls since a 3-0 sweep Nov. 13, 2015.
UNF 3, KSU 1 (19-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-23)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: The middle of the set saw the teams share a pair of runs, although KSU carried momentum from a 3-0 run to break a 15-15 tie and seal the set ... The Owls hit a match-high .484 in the opening set ... Solimar Cestero paced the Ospreys with four kills, although KSU's Lauren Chastang led the set with five.
- Set 2: The numbers were almost even on both ends although a 5-0 run to break a 10-10 tie is what catalyzed the Ospreys to even the match ... UNF never relinquished its lead after gaining it midway in the set ... UNF hit .327, while KSU hit .316 ... The Ospreys had a number of players with the hot hand ... Cestero hit .333 for six kills, Stingl notched five on .500 hitting and Dixon hit .571 for four ... Askew tallied 16 assists.
- Set 3: A furious rally late made the difference ... UNF overcame a 21-17 deficit with a 7-3 run ... One service error, four attack errors and two Dixon kills helped UNF complete the comeback ... The Owls committed four service errors in the set.
- Set 4: There were five tie scores and two lead changes, although UNF held the advantage for the majority of the set ... UNF never trailed and KSU couldn't force a tie after a Chastang attack error gave UNF a 10-9 advantage ... The Owls got within 23-22, forcing UNF to take a timeout ... Cestero responded with a kill before KSU's Dani Ballou provided one ... Miriam Stingl finished a long rally with a kill to provide match point.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
KSU
- Dani Ballou | 18 kills
- Lexi Broadwater | 59 assists
- Karlee Groover | Two aces
- Shelby Dennis | 17 digs
- Jasmine Brown | Four blocks
Notes
- Griffey moves into a tie with Morgan Van Alstine for the most solo blocks in UNF Division I history.
- Askew has 988 assists on the season, leading the ASUN.
- KSU has only allowed above .300 hitting three times this season.
- UNF is now 4-8 in matches against KSU in Jacksonville.
- It was Griffey's first win against KSU in her career at UNF.
- KSU committed 13 service errors, five from Lauren Chastang.
- UNF had four players in double figures for kills.
- UNF had 15 fewer kills but KSU committed 22 errors to just 10 for UNF.
Wright's Words
"I am super proud of how we went from losing and being devastated and now coming out today ready to play," head coach
Kristen Wright said. "This is going to be the catalyst to a lot of success and they need to taste this. Kennesaw State is a very good program and a well-coached team. They've taken down Alabama and South Alabama and their RPI is in the 70s. I'm just very proud of all of the girls, top to bottom. We felt like a unit today and we just focused on execution and limiting errors and we got the win."
Up Next
UNF begins a three-match road swing at NJIT Friday at 6 p.m.
