North Florida Invite Returns to The Nest

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball opens the 2024 season with the North Florida Invite as it hosts Mercer, Quinnipiac and Rhode Island Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31.

All matches, including neutral site contests not involving UNF, will be streamed and available on ESPN+.

North Florida returns 11 letterwinners to a team that was selected to finish fifth in the ASUN Preseason Poll.

TOURNEY DETAILS

Who | North Florida, Mercer, Quinnipiac, Rhode Island
What | North Florida Invite
When | Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31
Where | UNF Arena

Live Coverage

Live Stats - unfospreys.com
ESPN+

Last Time Out
FORT MYERS, Fla. - North Florida (17-15) had second-seeded Lipscomb (21-7) on the ropes, but the Bisons were able to stave off UNF's match point in the fourth as the Ospreys bowed out of the Atlantic Sun Championship Semifinals in a five-set heartbreaker Friday, Nov. 17.

Maddie Boyd tied the UNF DI era single game blocks record with 12, while Kailey McKnight had a game-high 17 kills.

Newcomers

North Florida's roster features seven newcomers
UNF's roster features four true freshmen including Dakota Skye-Spurrier, Kamila Mieles, Madison Hammermeister and Kacey Kazmierski
A few upperclassmen transfers in Jacqueline Arrington, Ella Bines and Jexsamarie Perez have joined the roster.

Returners

Head coach Kristen Wright enters her seventh season leading the Ospreys
She is knocking at the door on 100 wins, tallying 90 in her time in Jacksonville
Outside hitter Kailey McKnight was named to the ASUN Preseason squad
Joining McKnight as returning upperclassmen are Kierstyn McFall, Kyla Solis, Janelly Ceopa, Mackenzie Piester, Anna Butler, Annie Antar, Rylee Moorhead, Amy Burkhardt and Maymie Guthrie
McFall returns after posting 248 kills and 47 blocks in 122 sets last year

Scouting

Rhode Island

The Rams went 4-26 a year ago and 1-17 in league play
Rhode Island freshman Madi Disu was named to the 2023 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team a year ago
Ryan Sullivan is in his first season as the head coach at Rhode Island after joining staff July 1

Quinnipiac

Quinnpiac tallied a 19-10 record last year, performing well in the MAAC with a 14-4 league record
The Bobcats advanced to the MAAC title match last year before falling to Fairfield in four sets
Outside hitter Ginevra Giovagnoni was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year

Mercer

The Bears had a solid season last year, going 16-12 and 12-4 in league play
Mercer is a long-time rival of the Ospreys, having been in the Atlantic Sun for over a decade
The Bears were tabbed to finish third in the preseason poll for the SoCon
Middle blocker Skyler Bumpers was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team
FSU transfer Skye Ekes joined Mercer ahead of the 2024 campaign

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Annie Antar

Jacqueline Arrington

Ella Bines

Maddie Boyd

Amy Burkhardt

Anna Butler

Janelly Ceopa

Maymie Guthrie

Madison Hammermeister

Kacey Kazmierski

Kierstyn McFall

Kailey McKnight

Kamila Mieles

Rylee Moorhead

Jexsamarie Perez

Mackenzie Piester

Kyla Solis

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