JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF closes out its seven-match homestand with a midweek non-conference matchup against Georgia Southern Tuesday, Sept. 17.
1. Last Time Out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Going by the numbers, 37 tie scores and 21 lead changes over five sets says enough about the nature of UNF (4-6) and FIU's five-set match Saturday, Sept. 14. Huge numbers were posted on both ends, but FIU (5-3) got the better end of things in the end, winning in five sets from the UNF Arena.
It was a memorable day for a number of Ospreys, namely freshman setter
Julianna Askew and
Gabby O'Connell. Askew recorded 70 assists, tied for the most assists in a five-set match in UNF's DI history. Days after setting a new career high for kills, O'Connell went a notch higher, posting 29 kills to tie a UNF DI record for a five-set match.
2. Series History
UNF and Georgia Southern have met nine times, with the Eagles taking five of those matches … The Ospreys have won the last two meetings, including a 3-1 win against GSU on the road, marking head coach
Kristen Wright's inaugural win with the Ospreys … North Florida is 2-1 against Georgia Southern when playing in Jacksonville, last losing as the home team in 2010.
3. She's a Freshman!
Rookie-setter
Julianna Askew played out of her mind Saturday against FIU, posting 70 assists, the most by any player in Division I thus far in 2019 … She tied the UNF DI five-set match record as well … The last player in UNF history to post 70 assists was Jenna Thomas September 27 of 2006 against FAMU … Askew is second in the conference in assists (375), second in aces/set (0.46) and first in service aces (17) … Classmate
Rocio Moro has been phenomenal as well, leading the league in digs with 178 … Moro is first in the ASUN in digs/set (4.81), having notched at least 20 digs four times this year.
4. The Hot Hand
Middle blocker
Taryn Griffey and outside hitter
Solimar Cestero have been putting up big numbers lately, but leading the pack offensively has been redshirt-junior
Gabby O'Connell … Through ten matches O'Conell has nearly reached half of the kill total she accrued last season … Tuesday at USF she broke her previous career high with 25 kills, and four days later she surpassed that, notching 29 kills to tie a UNF DI five-set match record … The outside has posted at least 20 kills three times this season, collecting three double-doubles … O'Connell leads the league in kills (153) and is ninth in the ASUN in digs (104).
5. Scouting Report - Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern is 4-3 and is coming off a 3-0 loss to Winthrop … The Eagles have defeated Campbell, USC Upstate, UNC Asheville and Southern Miss … GSU had its road trip to Bethune-Cookman for the "Bash at the Beach" canceled … GSU lost to Mercer 3-0 Aug. 30 … Maddie Bryant leads Georgia Southern with 85 kills … Landon Jones paces GSU defensively, tallying 91 digs … GSU has three players with at least 12 blocks.
