JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - An extremely exciting and long-awaited weekend is in store for North Florida volleyball as the Ospreys play two matches against rival Jacksonville University, while also opening up the CSI Companies Court at the UNF Arena Sunday, Nov. 6. UNF goes to JU Friday before hosting the Dolphins Sunday.
Also set for the weekend are multiple pre-match recognition ceremonies and Alumni Weekend.
Sunday's match at the UNF Arena will be streamed on ESPN+ and is free admission. The contest marks the first official contest on the UNF Arena's CSI Companies Court. The Bank of England Hospitality Suite will not be open as it is still undergoing construction.
MATCH NOTES
SERIES HISTORY
Jacksonville: UNF is 28-17 all-time against Jacksonville, having won 10-straight against the Dolphins, dating back to Oct. 2017 … the Ospreys are 16-5 against JU at home and 11-10 in matches at Swisher Gymnasium … UNF won both contests a year ago, defeating JU 3-0 at home and 3-1 at JU … North Florida has swept five of the contests in the current 10-match winning streak.
SCOUTING REPORT
Jacksonville: JU is 9-15 and 3-9 in league play … the Dolphins are currently ranked 12th in the league, four games behind North Florida … JU is coming off a 3-0 loss to EKU Oct. 29 … head coach Maggie Couture is in her third season at the helm with the Dolphins … she was recently inducted into the Belmont University Athletic Hall of Fame … libero Kariana Ayala-Drew has been a shining spot for JU this season, leading the league in digs/set at 5.07 … she is just behind UNF's
Rocio Moro for second in the league in digs … JU has blocked well this year, tallying 224 blocks, while opponents have notched just 154 … JU is 12th in the league in kills/set and 12th in assists/set.
AN OSPREY WIN WOULD…
Give UNF 11-straight wins against Jacksonville … ensure North Florida at least a .500 winning percentage in ASUN play for the season … a win on Friday and Sunday would bring UNF above .500 for league competitions for the season.
PRE-MATCH EVENTS
North Florida is hosting a series of pre-match events to honor current student-athletes as well as achievements from last season.
- Maddie Boyd and Solimar Cestero both reached 200-career blocks this season.
- Mahalia White is five kills shy of reaching 1,000 for her career after taking into account her numbers from her time at UC Davis.
- Rocio Moro became the first player in program history to reach 2,000-digs Oct. 22 against Kennesaw State, while also setting the UNF program record for digs at Queens Oct. 14.
- UNF went 25-8 last season, reaching the NIVC Championship Quarterfinals. It was the first time UNF has advanced to a national tournament during its DI era. The Ospreys' new banner will be highlighted pre-match.
- North Florida volleyball earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award last season. Prior to the match UNF will be presented with the team award.
RIVER CITY STREAK
Head coach
Kristen Wright is a perfect 10-0 against Jacksonville during her tenure at North Florida … the UNF head coach has swept the Dolphins five times … in the Spring 2021 season, Wright and the Ospreys defeated JU, 4-0 … UNF hasn't dropped a match to JU since the 2017 season.
SOLIMAR NEARS MORE RECORDS
Solimar Cestero is knocking on the door of two more UNF records. The outside hitter has played 136 matches, five short of setting the UNF program record. She also needs only 14 sets played to set the UNF mark.
NOT ONE, TWO OR THREE…BUT NINE
Moro added one more line to her amazing career bio with her ninth-career ASUN Defensive Player of the Week honor this past week … the libero's nine career honors are good for not only a UNF record, but also a conference record … she earned the award after posting 5.1 digs/set last week.
ASUN STANDINGS
UNF went 7-3 during the month of October, finishing the month with a 7-5 mark in league play … the Ospreys are in good position to make the ASUN Championship Tournament, standing alone in seventh with the top eight of 14 teams making the postseason … UNF is two matches ahead of eighth place EKU and three matches ahead of ninth-place Stetson.
