JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 2019 season opens in Wilmington for the Ospreys, with Charleston Southern, UNC Wilmington and Duquesne on deck for the inaugural action of the year.
| UNC Wilmington Invitational |
Match 1:
Charleston So. |
Friday, Aug. 30 - 12 p.m. | Wilmington, N.C. | Hanover Hall | Live Stats |
| Match 2: UNCW |
Friday, Aug. 30 - 7 p.m. | Wilmington, N.C. | Hanover Hall |
| Video | Live Stats |
| Match 3: Duquesne |
Saturday, Aug. 31 - 2:30 p.m. | Wilmington, N.C. | Hanover Hall | Live Stats |
| Series History |
Charleston So.: UNF leads, 3-1
UNCW: UNC-W leads, 1-0
Duquesne: First-ever meeting |
| Social Media |
@OspreyVB | #SWOOPLife | Facebook | @UNFOspreys |
1. Looking Back on 2018
UNF finished the 2018 season sixth in the ASUN before being eliminated in the first round of the ASUN Championship by No. 3 Lipscomb … The Ospreys went 11-22 with a 6-10 record in conference …
Solimar Cestero was tabbed an ASUN All-Freshman team selection last year and senior
Taryn Griffey received the prestigious distinction as an ASUN Winners for Life honoree.
2. Against the Opponents
North Florida is a combined 3-2 against all three opponents that it will meet in Wilmington … The Ospreys possess a 3-1 all-time record against Charleston Southern … The Ospreys and Bucs last met in 2011, with UNF downing Charleston Southern, 3-2. UNF and Duquesne have never met, while UNCW took the only meeting between these two teams … The Seahawks won, 3-2, in 2011.
3. Season Openers
The Ospreys are 16-12 all-time in season openers. Last year Wyoming got the best of UNF in the first match of the year … North Florida's last win to open the season was in 2017 when UNF topped Troy, 3-2 … UNF is 6-4 all-time in matches played on August 30. The Ospreys downed Savannah State, 3-0, in the team's last meeting on August 30 back in 2017.
4. Taking Inventory
The 2019 team features eight newcomers and eight letterwinners that are returning. UNF also lost eight letterwinners from last year … The Ospreys return both of their top offensive forces in senior
Taryn Griffey and redshirt-junior
Gabby O'Connell … Griffey posted 317 kills while O'Connell led the 2018 Ospreys with 320. The roster is a young one with six freshmen and six sophomores and only one senior. Four of UNF's players are from Puerto Rico and two more are from Europe (Austria and Italy) … North Florida's schedule features 16 home games and two invitationals that will be hosted at the UNF Arena.
5. Scouting Report
Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern went 13-12 and 8-8 in the Big South last season … David McFatrich took over as head coach in March of 2019 … McFatrich was previously the head coach at Central Arkansas and Mississippi State … CSU's roster features six seniors and eight freshman.
UNC Wilmington
The Seahawks went 15-12 and 8-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association last year … UNC-W was 7-2 at home last season … Head coach Amy Bambenek returns for her 11th season in Wilmington … The Seahawks have two seniors and five true freshmen on the roster.
Duquesne
The Dukes were 12-16 a year ago, going 8-4 at home, 2-8 on the road and 2-4 in neutral contests … Head coach Steve Opperman is in his 22nd season in Pittsburgh … Summer Slade, the 2018 team leader in kills, returns as a sophomore.
