Volleyball Rolls Into NIVC Quarterfinals With Clinical Sweep at Troy

Saturday, December 4

Troy, Ala.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

25-7,12-4ASUN

Troy

18-13,9-7Sun Belt

North Florida

Troy

Photo by: Jeremiah Wilson

Volleyball Rolls Into NIVC Quarterfinals With Clinical Sweep at Troy

12/4/2021 4:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score NIVC Tournament Bracket

TROY, Ala. - A clinical team effort cued North Florida volleyball (25-7) to a road sweep of Troy (18-13) in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Second Round Saturday, Dec. 4, sending the Ospreys to the NIVC Quarterfinals.

UNF led Troy in all facets of the game to pick up the team's 10th sweep of the year. North Florida's next opponent is still to be determined. UNF will face either Boston College, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T or UConn.

The Ospreys were led by Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana's 11 kills and .474 hitting percentage as UNF hit .321 as a team and held Troy to a .069 clip. Bre Walp's five blocks led a 10-block team performance, while Julianna Askew served up 27 assists. Solimar Cestero eyed the 10-kill mark with an efficient day, hitting .368 to go with nine kills.

UNF 3, Troy 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-14)
Inside the Sets

Set 1: Tied 16-16, UNF rattled off a 9-3 run to finish out an important first set that appeared to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon … the Ospreys hit .333 in the opening frame … North Florida's final five points in the session came off kills, three of which were provided by Hollingsworth-Santana.
Set 2: An early 3-0 swing to break a 3-3 tie provided the momentum North Florida needed to go for a 2-0 set lead … the Ospreys never relinquished their lead after taking a 4-3 lead … Troy would get within two at 18-16, although a flurry of blocks stifled Troy.
Set 3: Troy was pesky early in the third … the Trojans led 9-8 before UNF delivered a key blow with a 5-0 run … Cestero notched two kills, Askew dropped in consecutive aces and Hollingsworth-Santana put up a kill to force Troy into a timeout … dominant blocking prevented Troy from recovering.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana | 11 kills, .474 hitting percentage, 5 aces
Solimar Cestero | 9 kills, .368 hitting percentage
Julianna Askew | 27 assists, 3 aces
Rocio Moro | 15 digs
Bre Walp | 6 kills, 5 blocks

Troy

Cheyenne Hayes | 9 kills, 6 digs
Amara Anderson | 23 assists

Coach Wright's Comments

Sweeping our way into the quarterfinals!@CoachKWright12 shares her words following the win at Troy. #SWOOPLife // #OSPREYWay pic.twitter.com/subcsaICsL
— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) December 4, 2021

Notes

UNF reached 25 wins for the first time in UNF DI-history.
This is UNF's first-ever trip to the NIVC.
Gabby O'Connell became the first Osprey to eclipse the 500-sets played mark.
Moro is two digs shy of 1,600.
North Florida is undefeated in the state of Alabama this year.
North Florida is 5-0 against Troy in series history.

Up Next
UNF awaits its opponent in the NIVC Quarterfinals. The Ospreys will play either Boston College, Delaware State, North Carolina A&T or UConn.