Aces High in Sweep of Mercer

Saturday, September 7

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-0

Mercer

3-0

Mercer

North Florida

Emma Dixon celebrates with Gabby O'connell

9/7/2019 5:31:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Ospreys Fueled by 11 Aces in Straight-Sets Win

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida (2-4) served up 11 aces, its most aces in a single match in nearly four years, to help sweep former conference-foe Mercer (3-4) Saturday, September 6, in the 2019 UNF Invitational finale.

Freshman setter Julianna Askew registered a team-high five aces and the Ospreys put up eight blocks en route to their second sweep of the year. Gabby O'Connell was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 16 kills over three matches. Rocio Moro was also tabbed to the all-tournament squad following 15, 27 and 11-dig outings over the weekend.

UNF 3, Mercer 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-22)
Inside the Sets

Set 1: UNF came out hot, hitting .324 in the first set … O'Connell collected five kills while Emma Dixon and Solimar Cestero posted three apiece … UNF took a 4-3 lead on a Miriam Stingl kill and never relinquished its lead.
Set 2: North Florida got on the defensive in the second set, holding Mercer to a mere -.107 hitting percentage … Dixon and Stingl both had their hands on a pair of blocks.
Set 3: Askew came up clutch with a pair of service aces and O'Connell unwound for eight kills on 14 attempts, propelling the Ospreys to the sweep … Tied 14-14, UNF went on a 5-2 run before Mercer evened it up at 20 … Two-late service aces from Askew and a resounding kill from O'Connell put a period on the match … Griffey provided four of her seven kills in set three.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

O'Connell | 16 kills, seven digs
Askew | 32 assists, five aces
Moro | 11 digs
Dixon | Four blocks

Mercer

Annie Karle | Nine kills, 10 digs
Nya Steele | 19 assists
Emilee Wissmach | 11 digs
Jada Howell | Four blocks

Notes

UNF and Mercer last met in 2017. The Ospreys won that match, 3-2, in Columbia, S.C.
The Ospreys are now 15-7 all-time against Mercer and 8-3 in home matches against the Bears.
O'Connell has posted at least 11 kills in five of six matches this season.
Both of UNF's wins this season have been via a sweep.
It was UNF's most aces in a match since posting 13 against Savannah State October 6, 2015.

Wright's Words
"I was really proud of our girls and how we closed out the weekend," head coach Kristen Wright said. "Looking at the whole tournament I feel we improved every match. We had some really smart performances from Gabby, Rocio and Julianna this weekend, as well as steady play from Griffey. Solimar also made a difference, as did a number of our players. We have a lot of pieces and we look forward to seeing our team continually improve."

Up Next
UNF heads to South Florida Tuesday to face the Bulls. First serve is at 6 p.m. from Tampa.