ORLANDO, Fla. - UNF Volleyball (0-4) came up short at UCF (3-0) in three sets despite remarkably efficient offensive performances from Maddie Boyd and Julianna Askew Sunday, January 31. 

The sophomores both hit at least .700 in the weekend finale. Askew is the first Osprey to hit at least .700 with 10 or more attack attempts since Devyn Wheeler hit .813 Nov. 10, 2018 against NJIT. Boyd is the first Osprey to hit over .700 with between 7-10 attacks since Madilyn McCarty hit .875 (eight attempts) against Jacksonville Sept. 25, 2018.

UNF 0, UCF 3 (22-25, 19-25, 16-25)
Inside the Sets

• Set 1: UNF had three more kills than the Knights and led by as much as five up 19-14, but UCF's late 9-0 run turned the tables and gave UCF the 25-22 win in set one … the Ospreys battled off four set points before falling just short … Gabby O'Connell hit .357 with seven kills in frame one.
• Set 2: UCF rattled off a 4-0 run to get an early lead … UCF led by as much as seven, but UNF rallied towards the end of the set with strong play on offense … Down 17-13, Julianna Askew bookended a Solimar Cestero kill with two of her own to cut the deficit to one … UCF's McKenna Melville and Kathryn Wesolich staved off UNF's late push.
• Set 3: Set three was tied 6-6 … UCF went on a 12-4 run, creating an 18-10 lead … the Knights pulled away, using four more kills and two more errors than UNF in the third session.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

• O'Connell | 13 kills, seven digs
• Rocio Moro | 22 digs, two assists, one ace
• Askew | Seven kills (.700 hitting), 28 assists, four digs, one ace
• Maddie Boyd | Six kills (.714 hitting)
• Bre Walp | Two blocks

UCF

• McKenna Melville | 11 kills, .375 hitting
• Dresden Pass | 16 assists
• Anne-Marie Watson | four blocks
• Amber Olson | Eight digs

Notes

• UNF had two players at or above .700 hitting. Askew hit .700 (seven kills, 10 attempts), while Boyd hit .714 (six kills, seven attempts).
• O'Connell is nearing the 1,000-kill milestone, just 14 kills shy.
• It was UNF's fourth-consecutive match against an AAC opponent
• UCF is a two-time AAC defending champion.
• Grace Peterson made her first appearance of the season.
• It was UNF's second weekend of back-to-back games against the same opponent.
• Askew surpassed 1,400 kills for her career.
• UCF outblocked UNF, 8-2.
• UNF had one more kill than the Knights (39-38).

Wright's Words
"We made some key adjustments to put us in a position to win against a team that had a 24 RPI in 2019. We were up 19-13 in the first set and UCF went on a serving run, which we compounded with unforced errors. We improved on the weekend and competed well. We were able to see 13 players compete and that gives us a good idea of where we are at. Our three freshman on the court made some big plays today, while Boyd and Julianna hit over .700. We also served tough, but credit to UCF who won the serve-to-receive battle tonight. We're eager to piece the feedback together and the team is confident and hungry, which is exactly what we want from scheduling tough in preseason." - Head coach Kristen Wright

Up Next
UNF is off for over a week before going to Georgia Southern February 9.