Volleyball's Comeback Falls Just Short Against Clemson

Friday, February 12

Jacksonville, Fla.

9 a.m.

University of North Florida

1-5,0-0ASUN

Clemson

7-4,3-3ACC

Clemson

North Florida

action shot of Gabby O'Connell on the attack

O'Connell stands at 1,010 career kills.

2/12/2021 2:02:00 PM | Volleyball

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Ospreys Push Tigers to Five Sets, O'Connell Surpasses 1,000 Kills

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Down two sets, UNF volleyball (1-5) won set three 29-27 and set four 25-17, although visiting Clemson (7-4) staved off a North Florida match point in set five as the Ospreys' comeback came up just short Friday, Feb. 12 from the UNF Arena.

Fast forwarding to the final frame, UNF trailed 13-11 before Gabby O'Connell rattled off a kill and Clemson's Cate Long committed an attack error. Tied at 13, Julianna Askew dropped in one of her many dump shots of the afternoon to give UNF a match point opportunity. Clemson registered two kills, benefited from a service error and match-ending block.

There were 42 tie scores and 22 lead changes throughout the match. O'Connell surpassed 1,000 career kills and Askew put up her 10th career double-double behind a career-best 14 kills in the loss.

Clemson 3, UNF 2 (22-25, 21-25, 29-27, 25-17, 15-17)

Inside the Sets

Set 1: The back-and-forth play started in the first set … there were 10 tie scores and five lead changes … Clemson's late push and 16 kills to UNF's 11 allowed the Tigers to take frame one.
Set 2: The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 advantage that they never relinquished … Clemson posted its most efficient numbers in set two, hitting . 280.
Set 3: North Florida rode momentum late to steal a marathon set … The Ospreys had three match points before a kill from Askew and a nicely placed ace from Grace Youngblood gave UNF the set.
Set 4: The Ospreys rolled Clemson in the fourth, hitting .216 while holding the Tigers to -.053 hitting … UNF put up five blocks in the set while Boyd and McKnight had three kills apiece.
Set 5: North Florida had 10 kills to Clemson's seven in frame five, but four service errors hampered the Ospreys.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

O'Connell | 18 kills, nine digs, six blocks
Askew | 14 kills, 45 assists, two aces
Rocio Moro | 26 digs

Clemson

Camryn Hannah | 21 kills, .289 hitting, 22 digs
Solei Thomas | 10 kills, four blocks
Ava Pritchard | Eight kills, five blocks
McKenna Slavik | 45 assists, 17 digs

Notes

O'Connell is the fourth player in UNF DI history to surpass the 1,000-kill milestone.
It was UNF's seventh match all-time against an ACC opponent.
Boyd put up a career-high eight kills.
North Florida outblocked Clemson, 11-10.
UNF outhit Clemson, .177 to .163.
Logan O'Brien had 15 digs and was one of three Ospreys with double-digit digs.
UNF's last two matches against Power Five teams have gone to five sets.

Wright's Words
"What an even match and battle. If you were in the stands you were on your toes. It was really a player's game and it could have gone either way. It came down to a 17-15 score in the fifth. It was a great match to be in and experience heading into ASUN play. I'm proud of our girl's fight. To be down 2-0 and to battle back shows our grit and our belief. There were a few untimely errors, which we've reduced, but they popped up when we didn't need them in there."

Up Next
UNF hosts FGCU Sunday and Monday. First serve is set for 2 p.m. both days.