DeLAND, Fla. - UNF volleyball (21-4, 10-3 ASUN) found itself down double-set point in both the first and second set before wiggling out of the jam in both occasions. Stetson stormed back to force five sets before the Ospreys rallied to take the deciding frame and the match Saturday, Oct. 30.
The Ospreys clinch a spot in the ASUN Tournament and are three games ahead of Stetson and a half-game ahead of Kennesaw State for second place in the ASUN East Division. UNF is ensured to finish no worse than third in the ASUN East Division and no worse than fifth overall between both divisions.
UNF has defeated Stetson (12-13, 7-6 ASUN) in four consecutive meetings, its longest winning streak against the Hatters since 2015-17. North Florida has reached the 10-win marker in ASUN play for the first time since 2012, which is also the last time UNF reached 20-overall wins.
The match duration was the longest of the year at two hours and 57 minutes. Also of note,
Gabby O'Connell set the UNF program record for sets played after collecting five more sets played tonight.
UNF's bench provided a key lift in multiple moments as the Ospreys had 13 different players see the court.
UNF 3, Stetson 2 (26-24, 26-24, 24-26, 17-25, 15-11)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: UNF started the set off on a 4-0 run off Annie Antar's serve, and closed it out on another 4-0 clip to overturn a 22-24 deficit and take the opening frame, 26-24 … down two set points, Bre Walp tallied a kill, Solimar Cestero put one home on an over ball and Gabby O'Connell eventually closed it with a kill of her own … O'Connell and Cestero had four kills apiece, while Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana had five in what was nearly a 45 minute set.
- Set 2: Again, UNF faced a 24-22 deficit before rattling off a 4-0 run to win the set … Both teams started off hot offensively, hitting over .400 through the first third of the set … Stetson pulled ahead, creating a 13-8 lead … Amy Burkhardt provided some strong play to keep the Ospreys in the set … down 19-15, UNF used two Stetson set errors, a service error, attack error and Anna Butler kill to even things up … Hollingsworth-Santana dropped in an ace to give UNF the 21-20 lead … the Ospreys won five of the next nine points, evading two Stetson set points.
- Set 3: The third set was up for grabs, seeing 14 tie scores … UNF nearly pulled off the remarkable again in session three after facing a 24-22 deficit … Cestero had a kill and Rocio Moro provided an ace, although Stetson got the next two points.
- Set 4: After being tied 11-11, Stetson used a 7-1 run to help it even the match up and force a fifth frame.
- Set 5: A scorching hot 5-0 run to start the fifth set established the tone … the Ospreys led the whole frame, hitting .444 while holding the Hatters to .174 … Cestero tallied four kills in the final frame.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
- O'Connell | 15 kills, .258 hitting, 16 digs
- Hollingsworth-Santana | 12 kills, 10 digs
- Cestero | 13 kills, .273 hitting
- Annie Antar | 30 assists
- Rocio Moro | 23 digs
- Bre Walp | 6 blocks, 11 kills
Stetson
- Elena Djokovic | 21 kills
- Nyah Molina | 43 assists, 28 digs
- Kennedy Muldrow | 9 blocks
- Alejandra Perez | 2 aces
Gabby O'Connell's Thoughts on the Win & Sets Played Record
"It means a lot and I'm super thankful that I get to play at UNF. We're such a family here and I've really been blessed to have the opportunity to play for six years now. So, they'll have to put an asterisk in the stat book. I'm really happy to be here." --
Gabby O'Connell
Notes
- Antar made her sixth start of the season and her career.
- The Ospreys lead the all-time series 27-11.
- O'Connell played her 12th-career match against Stetson.
- North Florida has clinched a spot in the ASUN Championship with the win.
- O'Connell posted her 42nd career-double-double.
- O'Connell became the UNF volleyball program record holder for sets played, reaching 477 to surpass Nicole Baran (475).
- Both Antar and Askew reached the 20-assist mark.
- Hollingsworth-Santana notched her 25th-career double-double.
- The Ospreys are 4-1 in five-set matches. UNF has not lost a road or neutral-site five-set match.
- UNF had three with double figures for digs.
- The Ospreys had four players reach double figures for kills in the same match for the first time since the win against Louisiana Tech this year.
- The Ospreys have reached double figures for blocks nine times.
- UNF had 193 attack attempts to Stetson's 180.
Up Next
UNF will return to Jacksonville but play at JU Saturday, Nov. 6 in its final road-ASUN match of the regular season.
