ORLANDO, Fla. - North Florida volleyball (0-3) dropped game one of two at UCF (2-0) Saturday night January 30, falling in three sets to a preseason conference favorite Knights team.

UNF 0, UCF 3 (22-25, 12-25, 19-25)
Inside the Sets

• Set 1: Both teams went on runs in a first set that saw five lead changes … Down 10-9, UNF went on a 3-0 run thanks to a pair of UCF errors and a Solimar Cestero kill … UNF carried that lead to 14-11, but UCF tallied a 4-0 run … Teams traded service errors and Bre Walp recorded a kill to tie it at 16 … The Knights posted five kills, a block and an ace down the stretch to win the set.
• Set 2: UNF errors combined with 12 UCF kills allowed the Knights to win the second set, 25-12.
• Set 3: UNF put up a fight in set three … there were eight tie scores and three lead changes … The Ospreys had the lead early with the help of a couple of quick kills from Gabby O'Connell … Grace Youngblood bookended a UCF kill with an ace and a kill of her own as the Ospreys lead, 8-7 … A pair of attack errors allowed UCF to go up in front and hold the lead for good … UCF's McKenna Melville had five kills in frame three.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

• Walp | Eight kills, .211 hitting, two blocks
• Julianna Askew | 27 assists, eight digs
• Rocio Moro | 11 digs
• O'Connell | Eight kills, four digs, one block
• Maddie Boyd | Three kills, .500 hitting, two solo blocks

UCF

• Melville | 20 kills, .452 hitting
• Kathryn Wesolich | Five blocks
• Dresden Pass | 20 assists, seven digs
• Amber Olson | 17 assists

Notes

• It was the first match between the two teams since 2013. 
• It's UNF's third consecutive game against an American Athletic Conference opponent.
• The Knights were picked to win the AAC this season after winning the last two league titles.
• UCF went 14-3 at home last year and 25-8 overall.
• Boyd is up to a team-high five solo blocks.

Wright's Words
"We played a solid set one and three. We served very well and got them out of system tonight, and I think we won the serve and pass game. Our offense is a big focus for us right now. We sided out at 64 percent in set one and hit a .310 with 14 kills. Against most teams in the country that wins. As the match went on attack errors increased, setting location was tight or off and our pins did a poor job managing out of system, leading to attacking errors. The good news is it is completely in our control. There are a lot of smaller victories that we are working on as a team that will lead to the bigger picture as we grow and play UNF-style volleyball. Credit to UCF and their attack proficiency hitting .357 with over 14 kills per set and only eight attack errors to our 27. That's the difference in winning and losing sets one and three. We're looking forward to competing tomorrow with our determined squad." - Head coach Kristen Wright

Up Next
UNF and UCF meet again tomorrow Jan. 31 at 5 p.m.