First Set Comeback Catalyzes Sweep at JU

Wednesday, November 1

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

14-13,7-6ASUN

Jacksonville

8-17,5-8ASUN

North Florida

Jacksonville

Mahalia White and Rocio Moro celebrating a point

White changed the match, going for 14 kills on .385 hitting in three sets.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

11/1/2023 10:44:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

White Tallies Match-High 14 Kills, Ospreys Sweep Season Series Against Dolphins

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball (14-13, 7-6 ASUN) neutralized three-straight Jacksonville set points to come back and win the first set, carrying that momentum into a River City Rumble road sweep at JU (8-17, 5-8 ASUN) Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Swisher Gymnasium.

Mahalia White contributed four kills of the 5-0 run to close out a crucial first set, while five Ospreys hit at least .300 on the night. North Florida has now won 13 of 14 matches against JU during head coach Kristen Wright's tenure.

The win puts UNF at 7-6 in the league with three matches remaining. With another win or a JU loss, North Florida secures a spot in ASUN postseason play.

UNF 3, JU 0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-20)

Inside the Sets

Set 1: UNF took a 3-1 lead before trading points … JU went on a 5-0 run to get in front … service errors by the Dolphins prevented the hosts from expanding their lead … UNF won a challenge off an Annie Antar dump shot to take a 13-8 JU lead and bring it to 12-9 … the Dolphins pushed their lead to 17-12, forcing a UNF timeout … Annie Antar came up with some big solo blocks midway through the set … Kailey McKnight unleashed consecutive kills to force JU into a timeout down 20-18 … down 23-19, UNF got kills from McKnight and Anna Butler to get within two … after a JU kill, UNF set to White for four-straight kills … UNF got a block assist to seal the set with a 5-0 run.
Set 2: Consecutive blocks gave UNF a 4-1 lead, ushering JU to take a timeout … that lead grew to 6-1 in part due to blocks … JU's performance at the service line got the Dolphins within one … JU stormed back to take the 10-9 lead with a block and an ace … UNF's scorching hitting continued, bringing UNF to a comfortable lead throughout the rest of the set … Antar finished the set with her second ace.
Set 3: JU got big on the block for a 6-3 lead … UNF rattled off a 7-0 run to take an 12-9 lead and force JU into a timeout … JU stayed within three for much of the third set, but UNF held on to close out the set and the match in convincing fashion … fittingly, White closed the match with a monstrous kill.

Leaders By the Numbers
JU

Anna Erickson | 13 kills, 6 digs
Rebecca Rocassin | 29 assists
Kristina Nika | 13 digs

UNF

Mahalia White | 14 kills, .385 hitting percentage, 2 blocks
Annie Antar | 34 assists, 2 aces, 4 digs
Rocio Moro | 15 digs, 5 assists

Notes

Rocio Moro set the North Florida career matches played record with 142, breaking former teammate Solimar Cestero's mark
It was UNF's second road sweep of the season and first since early September at Coastal Carolina
North Florida has won 13 of the last 14 against JU, with the entirety of that stretch occurring at Jacksonville
It was UNF's first sweep at JU since Feb. 21, 2021
White's .385 hitting percentage was a season high in matches with at least 10 attacks
UNF's team hitting percentage was the third-best on the season
North Florida hit above .300 in all three sessions, committing only 10 attack errors
North Florida held the advantage in kills, blocks, assists and digs
Both Butler and Boyd were without an attack error

Postgame Comments

.@CoachKWright12 & @mahaliawhite_ follow up after a team win at JU tonight #OSPREYWay pic.twitter.com/TBeXaPygFK
— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) November 2, 2023