STORRS, Conn. - After making the trek all the way from Jacksonville, Florida to Storrs, Connecticut, UNF volleyball (25-8) came up just a few swing points away from knocking off host UConn (24-10) in a 3-1 loss to a tough Huskies team in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Quarterfinals Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Solimar Cestero paced the Ospreys with 12 kills,
Kailey McKnight hit .457 for 11 kills in her first start since September 24 and
Rocio Moro reached the 30-dig milestone for the second time this season in UNF's first-ever match in the state of Connecticut.
The Ospreys conclude the year with a 25-8 record, a North Florida volleyball Division I-era program record. It was also the first time North Florida has played volleyball in December during its Division I and even Division II days.
UNF 1, UCONN 3 (23-25, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: UNF got off to a strong start thanks to three kills apiece from Kailey McKnight and Julianna Askew … UNF led by at least two most of the way, creating a 15-12 lead as UConn took a timeout … the Huskies got within one at 20-19 before Julianna Askew provided a clutch kill on a two-ball … UConn got its first lead of the set at 22-21, although UNF turned that around for a 23-22 lead … UConn finished the comeback to win 25-23 … McKnight and Askew combined for nine kills.
- Set 2: North Florida got off to a blazing hot start and created a 14-7 lead in the process … the Ospreys hit .317, had 16 kills and suffered only three attack errors to create enough separation and survive a late UConn push.
- Set 3: With UNF up 18-16, UConn rattled off a 5-0 run that helped push the Huskies to a 2-1 set advantage … the Ospreys did get a kill from Maddie Boyd late following a pair of UConn miscues, although the Huskies held on despite an early deficit in the third.
- Set 4: McKnight brought her play to the service line, helping the Ospreys out to a 4-0 lead on her serve … the Huskies used a fortuitous run to get even 11-11, before McKnight broke a brief tie with her ninth kill of the night … the Huskies put up a 6-0 run to go ahead, 17-12 … UNF turned in an important 3-0 run thanks to an ace and a block to get the Ospreys back in it … down 20-16 after a UNF timeout, UCONN suffered a service error and Bre Walp notched a kill … UConn earned the next two, but UNF answered the call with its backs against the wall to get within 22-21 … the Huskies closed it out with the help of key kills.
Leaders By the Numbers
UCONN
- Taylor Pannell | 16 kills, .433 hitting percentage, 5 blocks
- McKayla Wuensch | 44 assists, 18 digs
- Caylee Parker | 14 kills, 2 aces
UNF
- Cestero | 12 kills
- McKnight | 11 kills, .457 hitting percentage, 2 aces
- Askew | 31 assists
- Moro | 30 digs
- Maddie Boyd & Bre Walp | 2 blocks apiece
Wright's Words
Notes
- UNF and Uconn met for the first time.
- It was UNF's second meeting against a Big East team this year.
- McKnight made her first start since a 3-1 win against Central Arkansas September 24.
- Askew finished the season six assists shy of the UNF DI-era career-assists mark. She is just short of Britt Claessens' mark of 2,819.
- Gabby O'Connell concludes her career with 505 sets played and 136 matches competed in. Her sets played mark is a UNF record, while her matches played record is a UNF DI-era record.
- Moro surpassed the 1,600-career digs mark with her second 30-dig match of the year.
- It was UNF's first match on a Wednesday all year.
