Volleyball Clipped by Stetson in Weekend Finale

Saturday, September 24

Jacksonville, Fla.

8 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-10,1-1ASUN

Stetson

10-4,1-1ASUN

Stetson

North Florida

9/25/2022 12:30:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

White Goes for Match-Best 22 Kills, Ospreys Split ASUN-Opening Weekend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Despite taking the first set and getting a season-best 22 kills on .319 hitting from Mahalia White, North Florida volleyball was not able to hold back a persistent Stetson team as the Ospreys dropped the ASUN-opening weekend finale to the Hatters, 3-1, Saturday, Sept. 24.

The match lasted nearly two hours as the two teams slugged it out in typical fashion when the Ospreys (3-10, 1-1 ASUN) meet with the Hatters (10-4, 1-1 ASUN). Moro reached the 20-dig milestone for the second time in three matches, while Amy Burkhardt posted a career-best 11 digs.

Saturday's match was played at Jacksonville University's Swisher Gymnasium as the UNF Arena continues to undergo renovations.

UNF 1, Stetson 3 (25-20, 14-25, 17-25, 23-25)

Inside the Sets

Set 1: UNF created an early lead and Stetson replied, but the Ospreys were clicking on all cylinders late in the first set, finishing the set on a 11-5 run to take the opening frame … Alannah Nelson provided a nice spark off the bench in the first frame, contributing a pair of blocks, while White dominated the opening frame once more, posting seven kills on .500 hitting.
Set 2: Stetson put its late-first set slide behind it as the Hatters paced the way all throughout the second session .. Stetson hit a match-best .333 as the squad committed just one attack error.
Set 3: A tide-turning decision in the third set saw the Hatters on top once again, giving Stetson the edge in sets won … despite getting a furious effort from Solimar Cestero and her seven kills in the third set, Stetson was lifted by a varied offensive attack and a critical 7-0 run late in the frame.
Set 4: Despite getting behind early, North Florida was resilient, coming up just points shy of forcing a fifth set for the second time in as many evenings … White bookended her big day with six kills, two of which came consecutively as UNF evaded back-to-back Stetson match points … UNF nearly pulled off the feat of fighting its way out of a trio of opposing match points once more … but, Stetson's offensive mainstay in Elena Djokovic was able to provide a match-clinching kill.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

Mahalia White | 22 kills, .319 hitting percentage, 7 digs
Solimar Cestero | 9 kills, .364 hitting percentage
Rocio Moro | 20 digs, 6 assists
Savannah Cook | 19 assists, 9 digs

Stetson

Anabelle Standish | 10 kills, 13 digs, .391 hitting percentage
Alexis Thompson | 10 kills, .304
Nyah Molina | 8 kills, 20 assists, 9 digs
Elenja Djokovic | 7 kills, 14 digs

Notes

UNF still paces the all-time series with Stetson by a considerable margin, leading the Hatters, 27-12.
North Florida had its four-match winning streak against Stetson snapped.
UNF has posted more blocks than its opponent in five-straight matches.
This is just the third match to go four frames this season.
Cestero eclipsed 1,100 career kills in the match. She also surpassed Morgan Van Alstine in total sets played, reaching 447, good for ninth in UNF history.
White combined to post 42 kills in the two matches this weekend.
Savannah Cook posted a season-high 19 assists.
Kierstyn McFall has been extremely efficient over the past three matches. Tonight she hit a season-best .429, giving her three-straight matches of at least .300 hitting.

Postmatch Comments

Coach Wright goes through tonight's decision against Stetson in the weekend finale from Swisher Gymnasium. #OSPREYWay // #MAXOUT pic.twitter.com/gwFhfGrKY2
— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) September 25, 2022