KENNESAW, Ga. - UNF (6-9, 0-1 ASUN) fell in straight sets in its 2019 ASUN opener at Kennesaw State (9-5, 2-0) Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center. The Owls were propelled by momentum of winning a come-from-behind first set, taking the second and third sets with efficient hitting.
Redshirt-junior
Gabby O'Connell notched another career milestone in the loss, surpassing 800 career digs just eight days after she eclipsed 900 career kills.
KSU 3, UNF 0 (21-25, 15-25, 21-25)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: UNF established a three-point lead on two occasions, but KSU eventually battled back to take a 13-12 lead … A quick 3-0 run gave UNF the lead at the first media timeout … The next 3-0 swing went to KSU, with the Owls evening it at 17-17 after UNF's 17-14 lead, forcing the Ospreys to take a timeout … UNF reclaimed a 21-19 lead, but KSU turned in a 6-0 run to take the opening set … O'Connell posted five kills and five digs in the first set.
- Set 2: KSU raced out to a 6-3 lead and didn't look back … There was just one lead change in the second set … KSU led by as much as 10 … KSU hit .452 in the second set, committing only one error.
- Set 3: The Owls took the early lead, creating as much as a 6-3 advantage … UNF crawled back in, going on a 5-1 run to take an 11-10 upper hand … But, KSU won eight of the next 10 points and never relinquished its lead ... The Ospreys got within two at 20-18, although KSU got another late run, benefiting from four UNF attack errors.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
Kennesaw State
- Lexi Broadwater | 33 assists
- Quin Sutphin | 12 kills, .500 hitting percentage, four blocks
- Karlee Groover and Shelby Dennis | 14 digs
Notes
- It was Griffey's 100th match as an Osprey.
- This was meeting 23 between the two teams.
- It was the 12th meeting between the two teams in Kennesaw.
- Grace Peterson got the start for UNF.
- Moro continued her streak to 15 matches with at least 10 digs.
- North Florida is 4-8 at Kennesaw.
- The Owls posted two aces in each set.
- It was UNF's first match of the season without a player in double-digit kills.
- UNF was held to a season-low two blocks.
Wright's Words
"Credit to Keith and KSU tonight, they executed better than us," head coach
Kristen Wright. "They won the serve and pass game and we had a pretty solid game plan and played with a drive up until 20 points into the first set, and then I can't pinpoint what happened down the stretch. We had a few uncharacteristic performances in a few spots, but I was proud of Mimi and her play."
Up Next
UNF continues ASUN play this weekend in Lynchburg, Va., against Liberty at 1 p.m.
