JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball (11-10, 4-3 ASUN) stayed undefeated in October, putting forth an all-round performance en route to a 3-1 win against a strong Eastern Kentucky (15-4, 5-2 ASUN) team Friday, Oct. 13. The Ospreys hit .305, serving up 12 aces and stuffing the Colonels nine times. 

Rocio Moro got in the way of the EKU attack with 21 digs, setting the program sets played record in the process. North Florida also honored Mahalia White for her Collegiate Women Sports Award Honda Inspiration Cup honor prior to the match. 

EKU entered the match 5-1 in league play after having gone on a 13-match winning streak earlier on in the season.

UNF 3, EKU 1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17)

Inside the Sets

• Set 1: Kelly Negron dropped in an ace for a 5-4 lead, UNF's first advantage of the set, setting up a 3-0 run … North Florida and EKU traded leads until North Florida took advantage of a strong serving run from Annie Antar for a 3-0 run and a 13-10 lead … thanks to a key challenge won, a Kierstyn McFall ace and a Maddie Boyd and Mahalia White block, North Florida took the first frame.
• Set 2: EKU broke away in the middle of the set to take a 19-13 lead, its largest advantage of the match … Amy Burkhardt found space for consecutive aces as UNF got within 24-22, but EKU managed to close it out on a service error.
• Set 3: A 5-0 advantage on the block, including two that sandwiched a challenge call, helped UNF keep EKU down in a key third set … Kailey McKnight went for a set high five kills, while McFall had four kills … McKnight closed the session with a beautiful roll shot kill.
• Set 4: UNF started the set off by winning a challenge on the opening point, setting the tone for a dominant frame … tied 13-13, Janelly Ceopa helped UNF go on a 9-0 run as UNF raced away with the win.

Leaders By the Numbers
EKU

• Sarah Mitchell | 14 kills, 3 aces, 8 digs
• Emilee Hill | 11 digs, 18 assists
• Josie Schmitendorf | 13 digs

UNF

• Kailey McKnight | 14 kills, .353 hitting percentage, 2 aces
• Rocio Moro | 21 digs, 8 assists
• Annie Antar | 20 assists, 2 aces, 5 digs
• Kelly Negron | 19 assists, 2 aces, 5 digs

Postgame Comments
 

All round performance against a strong EKU team paced UNF in a 3-1 win - hear from @CoachKWright12 #SoarHigher pic.twitter.com/yWt8VtGvCc

— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) October 14, 2023

Notes

• Five Ospreys had at least two aces
• North Florida tied its season high for aces in a match
• Boyd set a season high with seven blocks
• The match saw 18 tie scores and seven lead changes
• Moro set the program sets played record, breaking the mark set by her former teammate Solimar Cestero
• North Florida improved to a 3-1 against Eastern Kentucky
• Three Ospreys hit above .300

Up Next
UNF completes its four-match home stand against Bellarmine tomorrow at 1 p.m.