White Eclipses 1,000-Career Kills Despite 3-2 Loss at JU

Friday, November 4

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

10-15,7-6ASUN

Jacksonville

10-15,4-9ASUN

North Florida

Jacksonville

White surpassed the 1,000-career kill mark Friday night.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

11/5/2022 12:29:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

UNF Plays Eighth Five-Set Match of the Season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball found itself embroiled in its eighth five-set match of the season Friday, getting a double-double from Savannah Cook while Mahalia White reached 1,000-career kills, before coming up just short against Jacksonville in the first round of the River City Rumble Nov. 4.

The Ospreys (10-15, 7-6 ASUN) suffered their first loss against the Dolphins (10-15, 4-9 ASUN) since 2017, snapping a 10-match winning streak against their crosstown rivals. White reached 1,010-career kills after posting 15 Friday night, bringing her to 327 during the UNF portion of her career.

North Florida has another crack at JU Sunday at home as the Ospreys sit on the cusp of notching a berth into the ASUN Championship.

UNF 2, JU 3 (24-26, 25-15, 15-25, 25-23, 13-15)

Inside the Sets

Set 1: Mahalia White posted five kills in the first set, hitting .571 to reach 1,000-career kills, all in the first set … despite trailing, 8-0, at the start of the match, White's play helped UNF eventually tie things up, 15-15 … Cook made an aggressive play on offense to notch a dump shot kill and give UNF set point, but JU managed to win three-straight points and the set.
Set 2: North Florida put together a sparkling set offensively, hitting .361 while holding the Dolphins to 11 kills as the Ospreys stormed to a 25-15 win … Solimar Cestero didn't commit an error, posting six kills
Set 3: Cestero and Maddie Boyd teamed up for a block to complete a 3-0 run for UNF at the start of the frame, but JU replied to slowly get back in the set, tying things up for the first time at 6-6 … JU's Jenna McNamara posted consecutive kills to give JU a 12-11 lead, an advantage that the Dolphins held the rest of the way.
Set 4: The seesaw match continued in the fourth … despite posting two-fewer kills than JU, the Ospreys benefited from six Jacksonville service errors to hold back the Dolphins and take the set, 25-23 … tied 23-23, Kailey McKnight posted a kill and JU's Lyric Love had a bad set.
Set 5: Set five continued on with the theme of the first four stanzas … UNF and JU had eight kills each, but one more UNF attack error and service error proved to make up the two-point difference … UNF fought off two JU match points before the Dolphins got the final tally it needed.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

Mahalia White | 15 skills, 2 aces, 4 digs
Solimar Cestero | 12 kills
Maddie Boyd | 9 kills, .400 hitting, 3 blocks
Savannah Cook | 46 assists, 11 digs
Rocio Moro | 23 digs

Jenna McNamara | 19 kills, 11 digs
Lyric Love | 7 kills, 5 blocks, 3 digs
Rebecca Rocassin | 51 assists, 11 digs

Notes

White has paced UNF in kills in 20 of 25 matches this year
Cook notched her third-career double-double
UNF played its eighth five-set match and seventh in league play
North Florida is 5-3 in five-set matches this year
White eclipsed 1,000-career kills
North Florida had won 10-straight matches against JU
Head coach Kristen Wright is 10-1 against JU
North Florida is seventh in the league with three matches remaining. UNF holds a two-match lead on three teams, with the top eight making the postseason.

Postmatch Comments

Following up after the front half of two River City Rumble matches this weekend with head coach Kristen Wright #OSPREYWay pic.twitter.com/eoliuSd5rW
— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) November 5, 2022