SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UNF volleyball turned it on late, hitting .387 with 15 kills in the final frame, but Santa Barbara held on in the third and won in three as the Ospreys (1-2) dropped the finale of the Thunderdome Classic to the host UCSB Gauchos (3-0) Sunday, Aug. 27.
Kailey McKnight was honored with her first-career all-tournament team honor for her play this weekend. The outside hitter posted 36 kills for 3.6 kills/set, going for matches of 16, 13 and seven kills respectively.
UCSB 3, North Florida 0 (18-25, 15-25, 23-25)
Inside the Sets
- Set 1: UCSB got a comfortable edge towards the middle of the frame, hitting .478 to establish a one-set lead.
- Set 2: Just as McKnight started the first set with an ace, the junior opened the session with a kill … North Florida had the lead again at 2-1, but UCSB tied it and held on to the lead from there to win frame two.
- Set 3: Despite trailing 18-13, UNF caught fire late, hitting a match-high .387 to push UCSB to the brink … a kill from Maddie Boyd, three UCSB errors and a crafty kill from setter Kelly Negron helped UNF to a 5-0 run and an 18-18 tie … the Gauchos and Ospreys were entangled in three more tie scores, including a 23-23 deadlock … UCSB concluded the match with consecutive kills.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
UCSB
- Andi Kreiling | 12 kills, .800 hitting percentage, 2 blocks
- Milan Rex | 16 assists, 2 aces
- Macall Peed | 12 digs, 3 aces
Notes
- It was the first-ever meeting between UNF and UCSB
- North Florida played 14 student-athletes for the third-straight match
- Rylee Moorhead made her UNF debut, recording one kill
- McKnight earned her first-career all-tournament team honor
- Kyla Solis earned her first start at UNF and notched five kills
Postmatch Comments from Coach Wright
Up Next
North Florida will be back on the East Coast next weekend at the Coastal Carolina Tournament.
