KENNESAW, Ga. - UNF volleyball's season came to a close following a 3-1 loss to a top-seeded Lipscomb (16-2, 11-1 ASUN) team in the ASUN Volleyball Championship Semifinals Friday, April 2.
It was the Ospreys' first trip to the ASUN semifinals since 2012 and second in program history. North Florida finishes the year 10-10, its first season of at least a .500 mark since the 2016 campaign.
UNF 1, Lipscomb 3 (31-29, 23-25, 24-26, 22-25)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: Down 11-5, UNF generated a 5-0 run to tie it 11-11 … from there the teams traded blow for blow … the set saw 16 total ties and five lead changes, turning into the longest set of the season for UNF … tied 29-29, Kailey McKnight and Maddie Boyd provided kills for the set … the Bisons were held to .062 hitting.
- Set 2: Lipscomb jumped out in front and led by as much as seven at 16-9 … UNF clawed back into the match, getting with 19-17 … after a Lipscomb attack error, UNF trailed just 21-20 … Lipscomb's Megan Kuper tallied a kill before Ashley Maher committed a service error … Lipscomb went ahead, 23-21, but McKnight and a Lipscomb attack error allowed the match to be evened at 23-23 … tied 24-24, Lipscomb dropped in an ace and a kill.
- Set 3: The third set was just as tightly contested … Lipscomb created an advantage in the middle of the frame, but the largest lead was only five points … Down 20-15, UNF got within two, down 23-21 … Samantha Rubal notched a killed, as did Solimar Cestero, although the Bisons' Rubal finished the frame with a kill.
- Set 4: A small margin in attack percentage allowed Lipscomb to get the edge in a competitive fourth frame … Lipscomb hit .283, while UNF hit .244 … the Ospreys didn't commit an a service error, but a Bisons block and ace to zero in both categories for UNF proved to help the difference.
Leaders By the Numbers
Lipscomb
- Megan Kuper | 15 kills
- Ashley Maher | 4 aces
- Samathan Rubal | 16 kills, .452 hitting percentage
- Delaney Dilfer | 53 assists
- Alyssa Zwolensky | 20 digs
UNF
Notes
- The match saw 34 ties and 13 lead changes.
- Askew posted her 18th career double-double.
- O'Connell tallied the 39th double-double of her career.
- UNF outblocked Lipscomb, 11-10.
- It was UNF's first match against Lipscomb this year and first neutral-site match.
Wright's Words
"It was an incredible match, but we're disappointed in the result. However, it does not take away from the tremendous growth our program has made. This tournament is really up for grabs for anyone. All of the coaches, ASUN staff and administrators have openly shared that this is one of the best teams UNF has ever had. In a year like this we can't overlook the commitment our team has lived out to go the season without any postponements due to COVID. We will build from this as we move forward into the fall."
