FORT MYERS, Fla. - Despite a two-set deficit, North Florida volleyball (20-4, 9-3 ASUN) exhibited a short memory to claim the third set and nearly erase a 10-point deficit in the fourth frame but the Ospreys came up short at ASUN East leading FGCU, 3-1, Friday, Oct. 29.
North Florida is now 20-4 and 9-3 in ASUN Conference competition with four conference matches remaining and five regular season contests overall.
Graduate student
Gabby O'Connell achieved history Friday, becoming the UNF DI Era matches played record holder with 127 contests competed in. O'Connell surpassed UNF greats Nicole Baran and Paige Pridgeon. O'Connell is now only four sets short of the UNF all-time record for sets played.
UNF 1, FGCU 3 (14-25, 7-25, 25-23, 27-29)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: Anna Butler and Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana posted three kills apiece, although the Eagles got the lead and didn't let go of it.
- Set 2: Attack errors hampered the Ospreys in the second as FGCU took hold of a 2-0 lead.
- Set 3: The Ospreys posted three aces to FGCU's zero while hitting .250 and holding FGCU to a .189 mark to get the edge in the third frame … up 22-21, Solimar Cestero delivered a kill, Bre Walp dropped in an ace and Anna Butler delivered set point.
- Set 4: FGCU raced ahead to a 14-7 lead and eventually a 22-12 advantage before the Ospreys caught fire, going on a 10-1 run … Walp had four kills over the final 10 points of the match and UNF's defense was dominant, although the Eagles barely held on.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
FGCU
- Erin Shomaker | 15 kills
- Chelsey Lockey | 48 assists
- Dana Axner | 16 digs
- Aja Jones | 8 blocks
Wright's Words
"We threw out a lineup we've never played with all year and it's just a testament to how deep we are. I thought we had the right matchups in that lineup tonight versus them. We played with heart and we believed, it's just that in the first two sets our execution was not there. They blistered us in the serve and pass game, and that's the ticket between these two teams. The third set I think we won, and in the fourth they started hot off their serve. But, the comeback is the ticket for us. That fight and belief that we have in a lineup we really haven't rolled out is something that I'm impressed by."
Notes
- O'Connell eclipsed UNF greats Paige Pridgeon and Nicole Baran for first in UNF DI history for matches played, reaching 127.
- It was Moro's ninth match with at least 24 digs, and her third in the last four matches.
- UNF is now 10-1 in matches on Friday night.
- The Ospreys are 2-3 over their last five against FGCU.
- UNF's eight aces were its second most in conference play.
Up Next
The Ospreys make the drive to Stetson for a 6 p.m. first serve tomorrow, Oct. 30.
