JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The latest installment of North Florida and FGCU volleyball finished as an instant classic as the Ospreys wriggled out of three Eagles' match points to win the third set and eventually pull off a five-set victory against Florida Gulf Coast Friday, Sept. 23 in the ASUN opener.
FGCU (10-4, 0-1 ASUN) was strong early, winning the first two sets, while UNF (3-9, 1-0 ASUN) wrestled out the third set with a 27-25 decision before finding its groove with a five-point victory in the fourth frame.
Tied 13-13 in the decisive session, FGCU's Chelsey Lockey stumbled into an attack error before
Jenna Zimmermann and
Kierstyn McFall put the finishing touch on the comeback with a resounding block at the pin.
The match saw 20 tie scores and seven lead changes, lasting over two hours as UNF and FGCU played to its second five-set match in as many seasons.
Mahalia White reached the 20-kill milestone for the first time in her UNF career, while
Amy Burkhardt tied her career-high 13 kills, a mark she originally set less than a week ago at South Dakota State.
UNF's defense not only secured match point, but did the talking throughout the contest as UNF out-blocked FGCU, 9-4.
Kailey McKnight's contributions defensively continued with a career-best 16 dig performance.
Rocio Moro finished one dig behind her teammate.
McFall came through with another strong performance, tallying eight kills on .375 hitting as well as six blocks.
The match was hosted at a neutral site venue, being played at JU's Swisher Gymnasium.
UNF 3, FGCU 2 (20-25, 16-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-13)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: UNF took a quick 2-0 lead, although FGCU bounced back to grab a 4-3 advantage as it never relinquished the lead the rest of the way … FGCU rattled off a big 8-2 run to create some separation.
- Set 2: FGCU's cleanest set came in the second as the Eagles hit .476 with only two errors, establishing a 2-0 lead.
- Set 3: The Ospreys began to turn the corner slowly but surely in the third frame … down, 13-10, UNF went on what seemed like an innocuous 4-1 run, tying things up at 14-14 … six more tie scores ensued, with UNF slipping around three FGCU match points, including a 24-22 deficit … White provided a clutch kill to get within one, leading into an FGCU attack error as UNF evened it up, 24-24 … FGCU grasped the lead again after a UNF service error, but UNF righted the ship … Burkhardt swung big and tallied a kill, FGCU surrendered another point on an attack error and a heady dump shot kill from Jenna Zimmermann sealed the session.
- Set 4: Without a doubt the momentum rested in UNF's grasp in the fourth frame as the Ospreys paced the entire set, hitting .333 while ushering FGCU into six attack errors a.148 hitting percentage … UNF had a match-high .333 sideout percentage in the session, keeping FGCU at bay all session as the Eagles couldn't muster a major run at any point.
- Set 5: The fast starts continued in the fifth frame as UNF raced out to a 5-2 lead, pushing head coach Matt Botsford to call a timeout for the Eagles … FGCU got one point back on a UNF attack error out of the timeout, but UNF responded to create an 8-4 lead … now, with the Eagles having their backs against the wall, FGCU ran off a 4-0 run to tie it, 8-8 … two crucial Burkhardt kills gave UNF a boost as the Ospreys developed a 13-11 lead … FGCU provided its final response, getting kills from Erin Shomaker and Lily Felts, but that was before a blocking miscue and successful UNF block gave UNF the five-set victory.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
FGCU
- Erin Shomaker | 16 kills
- Lily Felts | 10 kills, 4 aces, 7 digs
- Dana Axner | 19 digs
- Chelsey Lockey | 44 assists, 10 digs
Postgame Comments
Notes
- UNF is 2-0 on the year in five-set matches.
- Zimmermann posted a career-best 43 assists
- McKnight's 16 digs were a career-best
- McFall matched her previous career high of eight kills
- White's 20-kill performance was her first such outing as an Osprey.
- Burkhardt has 26 kills over the final two matches. She had yet to reach double-digit kills prior to last Saturday's match against South Dakota State
- North Florida overcame three FGCU match points in the third set
- FGCU won via a reverse sweep at UNF last season
- North Florida has defeated FGCU nine times in series history. Five of those wins have come in five sets, including five of the last seven
- UNF snaps a four-match losing streak to the Eagles
Up Next
UNF stays in Jacksonville and in ASUN play when it takes on Stetson tomorrow night at 8 p.m. back at Swisher Gymnasium.
