SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Kailey McKnight paced the charge with her seventh-career double-double, but a trio of marathon sets tilted outside of North Florida volleyball's favor as the Ospreys (1-1) dropped Saturday's match against New Mexico State (1-1) Aug. 26.
A maximum of three points separated each frame, including a second stanza that saw North Florida navigate around five set points before acquiescing late.
Anna Butler and
Mahalia White also had plus-.300 hitting percentage showings despite the loss.
For the second-straight evening, 14 Ospreys were sent to the floor.
NMSU 3, UNF 0 (22-25, 27-29, 22-25)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: McKnight's torrid start to the match helped UNF to a 10-5 lead as New Mexico State took a timeout … the outside hitter had five kills during the first 15 points of the match … UNF established a 14-6 lead although New Mexico State garnered its first glimpse of traction with a 3-0 run to force a UNF timeout … Butler helped break NMSU's run with a kill … NMSU eventually took its first lead since the opening points, 17-16 … Kelly Negron dropped in a timely ace to tie things, 20-20, but NMSU earned the next two points to push UNF to a timeout … McKnight finished the frame with six kills, but NMSU held on to take the first session, 25-22
- Set 2: UNF traded 3-0 runs to start the set … the Ospreys reversed a 6-4 deficit with a 5-0 run, taking a 9-6 lead and pushing the Aggies to their first timeout of the session … the Aggies evened it up again, but a service error bumped the Ospreys back to a 10-9 lead … Butler and Maddie Boyd smothered an Aggie attack for the block and a 15-14 lead … the Aggies won a challenge to tie up the set, 20-20, sending the set to the same score as frame one at this juncture … White went off the block for a kill and Annie Antar provided an ace, giving UNF a 22-20 lead … NMSU replied with two points, forcing a UNF timeout … UNF got the first point out of the brief break, but a kill and block by the Aggies set up their set point … North Florida dodged three more set points, but NMSU eventually sealed it on an overpass kill.
- Set 3: An active start to the third set saw NMSU lead, 7-4 … McKnight and Butler posted kills to tie it up, 8-8 … NMSU would stay with a slim lead through the middle portion of the set, holding a 15-13 advantage … the lead would grow to 21-14, pushing UNF to a timeout … McKnight came back with consecutive kills to give UNF some life … the Ospreys came back with another punch, going on a 3-0 run to evade three-straight match points … the Aggies were able to get just enough and hang on.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
NMSU
- Ryleigh Whitekettle | 17 kills, .680 hitting percentage
- Peyton Castillo | 21 assists
- Darian Markham | 18 digs
Notes
- This was the first-ever meeting between UNF and NMSU
- North Florida had faced a program from New Mexico in the Lobos back in September of 2018
- UNF went with the same starters as Friday night
- North Florida sent 14 Ospreys to the court for the second-straight night
- Morgan Wilson and Kyla Solis both notched their first-career kills with UNF
- McKnight posted her seventh-career double-double
- Three Ospreys hit above .300
Up Next
UNF wraps up the season-opening tourney by taking on host UCSB tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST.
