
McMillan and Wooldridge won a key match at the fifth slot against Stetson.
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Clutch Ospreys Top Hatters to Conclude UNF Invite
4/2/2023 12:49:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
UNF Splits Saturday Against No. 1 TCU and No. 17 Stetson
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida beach volleyball was clutch, meeting the tall task of winning all three courts that went to three sets as UNF (16-6) topped the No. 17 Stetson Hatters (13-11), 3-2, in a Saturday split of the day's doubleheader.Â
The freshman duo of Presley Murray and Madison Espy stole the show again, sealing the weekend finale win with a 16-21, 21-14, 15-10 match-clinching victory against Stetson's second pair. Earlier in the day, the Ospreys were bested by No. 1 TCU in UNF's first-ever match hosting the top team in the nation.Â
UNF went 3-1 on the weekend, earning two ranked wins and another against a foe receiving votes in FGCU. North Florida achieved its first-ever victory against No. 19 Pepperdine, while grabbing victories against FGCU and Stetson for the first time since the 2021 ASUN Championship.
Â
North Florida came up just three points short or less in three different opening sets as the Ospreys had their eight-match home-winning streak snapped against the number one team in the nation.
Results
1. Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) 21-17, 21-12
2. Anhelina Khmil/Ana Vergara (TCU) def. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) 21-19, 21-16
3. Kate Privett/Maria Gonzalez (TCU) def. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) 21-18, 21-12
4. Sutton MacTavish/Hailey Hamlett (TCU) def. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) 21-14, 21-12
5. Rochelle Scott/Hailey Brockett (TCU) def. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) 21-18, 21-15
Ext. Keagan Polk/Tara Patton (TCU) def. Zoe Cahill/Kelly McConekey (UNF) 21-12, 21-17
Match Notes
TCU Horned Frogs 23-0; National ranking #1
North Florida 15-6
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);
UNF went with the same lineup outside of a switch at the extras pair, taking on its third-different ranked opponent on the weekend.Â
It was a back-and-forth game against Stetson as has been in past history, with the Ospreys and Hatters even at 1-1 after the first wave of courts. Stetson won in straight-sets at the fourth slot, but Chantel McMillan and Hayden Wooldridge started a series of clutch moments by coming back to win 17-21, 21-18, 15-8.
Stetson took another brief lead by winning in straight sets at the third slot, setting up courts one and two to be the deciding slot. Heading to the top court, Audrey Brooks and Iris Fletcher traded 21-17 results before battling an increasingly windy environment to topple a tough team in Karin Zolnercikova and Shae Henson, 15-13.Â
Murray and Espy brushed off the first set to win in commanding fashion in session two. Down 7-5 in the third, the duo went on a 10-3 run to close out the match.
Results
1. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) def. Karin Zolnercikova/Shae Henson (STE) 21-17, 17-21, 15-13
2. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) def. Carolina Ferraris/Anete Namike (STE) 16-21, 21-14, 15-10
3. Gabriella Bramante/Tori Clement (STE) def. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) 21-17, 21-18
4. Noelle Weintraub/Audrey Gauthier (STE) def. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) 21-17, 21-16
5. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) def. Lauren Della/Klea Sirois (STE) 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
Ext. Aleksandra Stadnik/Jenna Gathright (STE) def. Mikayla Benanti/Zoe Cahill (UNF) 21-7, 21-15
Match Notes
Stetson 13-11; National ranking #17
North Florida 16-6
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);
Postgame Comments From Head Coach Doug WrightÂ
"We had a great weekend of competition at The Coop. It's always good to bring top programs from around the country to what we believe is one of the top beach facilities in the country. Ultimately, I am really proud of our team's approach to the weekend. We discussed being gritty heading into this weekend, which we defined as having passion and being able to persevere when it's not going well. I think both of those qualities in that approach stood out in how we played. We overcame being down in matches and we played with fire and joy. Chantel and Hayden played amazing in all of their matches, anchoring us and helping set the stage for some big time wins. It took all five pairs to get our three victories this weekend and each of them took a turn coming up big when we needed them. There's no bigger example of that than in our last match when Audrey and Iris, along with Madison and Presley put together wins at the first and second flights. Our team goal is to improve each time we play a match and it was exciting to see that happen this weekend against some very good competition. We are not where we want to be, so we are eager to get back to training this week and prepare for another big weekend at The Coop."
Â
Notes
Up Next
UNF continues its season-long 10-match home stand Friday with matches against UNCW and FIU.
Â
The freshman duo of Presley Murray and Madison Espy stole the show again, sealing the weekend finale win with a 16-21, 21-14, 15-10 match-clinching victory against Stetson's second pair. Earlier in the day, the Ospreys were bested by No. 1 TCU in UNF's first-ever match hosting the top team in the nation.Â
UNF went 3-1 on the weekend, earning two ranked wins and another against a foe receiving votes in FGCU. North Florida achieved its first-ever victory against No. 19 Pepperdine, while grabbing victories against FGCU and Stetson for the first time since the 2021 ASUN Championship.
Â
NO. 1 TCU 5, UNF 0
Saturday, April 1 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.
Saturday, April 1 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.
North Florida came up just three points short or less in three different opening sets as the Ospreys had their eight-match home-winning streak snapped against the number one team in the nation.
Results
1. Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) 21-17, 21-12
2. Anhelina Khmil/Ana Vergara (TCU) def. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) 21-19, 21-16
3. Kate Privett/Maria Gonzalez (TCU) def. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) 21-18, 21-12
4. Sutton MacTavish/Hailey Hamlett (TCU) def. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) 21-14, 21-12
5. Rochelle Scott/Hailey Brockett (TCU) def. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) 21-18, 21-15
Ext. Keagan Polk/Tara Patton (TCU) def. Zoe Cahill/Kelly McConekey (UNF) 21-12, 21-17
Match Notes
TCU Horned Frogs 23-0; National ranking #1
North Florida 15-6
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);
UNF 3, NO. 17 STETSON 2
Saturday, April 1 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.
Saturday, April 1 | The Coop | Jacksonville, Fla.
UNF went with the same lineup outside of a switch at the extras pair, taking on its third-different ranked opponent on the weekend.Â
It was a back-and-forth game against Stetson as has been in past history, with the Ospreys and Hatters even at 1-1 after the first wave of courts. Stetson won in straight-sets at the fourth slot, but Chantel McMillan and Hayden Wooldridge started a series of clutch moments by coming back to win 17-21, 21-18, 15-8.
Stetson took another brief lead by winning in straight sets at the third slot, setting up courts one and two to be the deciding slot. Heading to the top court, Audrey Brooks and Iris Fletcher traded 21-17 results before battling an increasingly windy environment to topple a tough team in Karin Zolnercikova and Shae Henson, 15-13.Â
Murray and Espy brushed off the first set to win in commanding fashion in session two. Down 7-5 in the third, the duo went on a 10-3 run to close out the match.
Results
1. Audrey Brooks/Iris Fletcher (UNF) def. Karin Zolnercikova/Shae Henson (STE) 21-17, 17-21, 15-13
2. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) def. Carolina Ferraris/Anete Namike (STE) 16-21, 21-14, 15-10
3. Gabriella Bramante/Tori Clement (STE) def. Michaela Rezentes/Katie Camp (UNF) 21-17, 21-18
4. Noelle Weintraub/Audrey Gauthier (STE) def. M. Feliciano-Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) 21-17, 21-16
5. Chantel McMillan/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) def. Lauren Della/Klea Sirois (STE) 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
Ext. Aleksandra Stadnik/Jenna Gathright (STE) def. Mikayla Benanti/Zoe Cahill (UNF) 21-7, 21-15
Match Notes
Stetson 13-11; National ranking #17
North Florida 16-6
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2);
Postgame Comments From Head Coach Doug WrightÂ
"We had a great weekend of competition at The Coop. It's always good to bring top programs from around the country to what we believe is one of the top beach facilities in the country. Ultimately, I am really proud of our team's approach to the weekend. We discussed being gritty heading into this weekend, which we defined as having passion and being able to persevere when it's not going well. I think both of those qualities in that approach stood out in how we played. We overcame being down in matches and we played with fire and joy. Chantel and Hayden played amazing in all of their matches, anchoring us and helping set the stage for some big time wins. It took all five pairs to get our three victories this weekend and each of them took a turn coming up big when we needed them. There's no bigger example of that than in our last match when Audrey and Iris, along with Madison and Presley put together wins at the first and second flights. Our team goal is to improve each time we play a match and it was exciting to see that happen this weekend against some very good competition. We are not where we want to be, so we are eager to get back to training this week and prepare for another big weekend at The Coop."
Â
Madison and Presley postgame interview - and rightfully so ??#SWOOP pic.twitter.com/n8eZWF9YZW
— UNF Beach Volleyball (@OspreyBVB) April 1, 2023
Notes
- UNF has won three matches against ranked teams this year, defeating Coastal Carolina, Pepperdine and Stetson
- North Florida is 9-1 at home this year
- Madison Espy and Presley Murray are 19-3 on the season
- UNF snapped its five-match losing streak against Stetson. It was also UNF's first win against Stetson since defeating the Hatters, 3-2, in the ASUN Championship April 25, 2021
- North Florida defeated FGCU and Stetson in consecutive days. The last time UNF has defeated FGCU and Stetson in consecutive meetings was during that ASUN Championship season
- It was UNF's first time earning a ranked win in consecutive days since doing so against No. 11 FAU April 2, 2021 and No. 20 FGCU the following day
- UNF is guaranteed a winning record with the victory against Stetson
- Chantel McMillan moved into the top ten for wins in UNF history with three during the weekend
???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??#SWOOP ????? pic.twitter.com/JPKIinJySW
— UNF Beach Volleyball (@OspreyBVB) April 2, 2023
Up Next
UNF continues its season-long 10-match home stand Friday with matches against UNCW and FIU.
Â
Players Mentioned
The Cooper Beach Volleyball Complex Aerial Shot
Thursday, July 06
2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Sand VB Championship
Thursday, July 06
"The Coop" - Speeches from The On-Campus Beach Volleyball Complex Announcement
Thursday, September 12
Ospreys 2016-2017 Year-in-Review
Saturday, July 01