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
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
Up Next
UNF plays its penultimate non-conference match of the regular season at FAMU Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.
