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
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
Up Next
North Florida starts a three-match home stand to close the regular season Saturday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. against Austin Peay.
