Volleyball Comes Up Shy in Five-Set Battle With FGCU

Friday, November 10

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

15-14,8-7ASUN

FGCU

23-5,15-0ASUN

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
FGCU	24	22	25	25	15	3
North Florida	26	25	20	22	11	2

11/11/2023 12:56:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the second time this season UNF and FGCU were embroiled in a match that surpassed two and a half hours, although after the dust settled the Ospreys (15-14, 8-7) came up just short against Florida Gulf Coast (23-5, 15-0 ASUN) in five frames Friday, Nov. 10.

Despite the loss, Mahalia White went for a season-best 16 kills, Rocio Moro eclipsed 30 digs and Kailey McKnight went for a double-double.

The Ospreys are now 8-7 in league play and up against Stetson in a critical matchup to decide seeding in ASUN postseason contention.

UNF 2, FGCU 3 (26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 11-15)

Inside the Sets

Set 1: The first was a seesaw one from the beginning … Anna Butler came up with a kill to stop FGCU's early run … things were even, 13-13 … Maddie Boyd came through with a momentum kill to push the lead to 22-18 … FGCU came back with a 4-0 run to tie things up and eventually create set point … FGCU suffered a service error and UNF before Kierstyn McFall and Anna Butler came up with a block.
Set 2: UNF's monstrous 8-0 run took any momentum out of FGCU's hands after it started off with a 7-3 lead … from there UNF never relinquished the lead, posting 15 kills while Annie Antar closed the frame with a dump shot kill.
Set 3: The third session started off just like the previous two, going back-and-forth … FGCU broke a 13-13 tie and never let go of the lead.
Set 4: FGCU's 7-0 run in the middle of the session provided the difference late despite a furious run by UNF and some stellar plays by the Ospreys … down 24-16, UNF won a challenge and proceeded to go on a 6-0 run before the Eagles finally closed it out.
Set 5: FGCU's 4-0 run to start the frame came up as the final difference … the Ospreys got within 5-3, but FGCU's Skylar English got a momentum kill as the Eagles held on.

Leaders By the Numbers
UNF

Mahalia White | 16 kills
Rocio Moro | 31 digs, 6 assists, 2 aces
Kailey McKnight | 10 kills, 18 digs
Anna Butler | 11 kills
Kierstyn McFall | 11 kills

FGCU

Skylar English | 18 kills, 9 digs
Alexandra Zakutney | 14 kills, 7 digs
Lily Tessier | 48 assists, nine digs

Notes

North Florida and FGCU have played in five-set matches in both of their meetings this year
North Florida is 9-4 at home on the season
It was UNF's eighth five-set match on the season
UNF has posted eight matches with double-digit aces
McKnight notched her 10th double-double of the season
White went for a season-high 16 kills
Both teams had 10 aces
There was only a two-point differential in points for both teams
UNF and FGCU only had a one-assist differential and one-kill differential

Postgame Comments

.@CoachKWright12 follows up after tonight's five-set battle against FGCU #OSPREYWay pic.twitter.com/S1O2GYrtCz
— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) November 11, 2023