JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball turned in a miraculous rally to push things to four frames, but visiting Central Arkansas (5-8, 2-0 ASUN) hung on in the final frame as the Ospreys (3-11, 0-1 ASUN) dropped a 3-1 decision in the conference opener Saturday, Sept. 28.
UNF 1, UCA 3 (19-25, 17-25, 27-25, 21-25)
- Set 1: UCA held a slim 15-14 lead at the first media timeout as both sides traded runs in the early going … the Bears pulled ahead late to take the first set … Amy Burkhardt paced UNF with four kills in the first frame, 25-19.
- Set 2: Kierstyn McFall dropped in an ace to give UNF an 8-7 lead as the Ospreys went on a 6-2 run … UCA would bounce back to take a 15-11 lead at the media timeout … UCA committed just two attack errors to win the second set.
- Set 3: Both teams started off hot, hitting above .400 in the early going … UCA found a run to take a 15-9 lead at the media timeout … UNF went on a 5-1 run to get within two late into the set … UNF crawled back into it, going on a 3-0 run to tie things up at 24-24 with its back against the wall … North Florida evaded another set point and got a kill and consecutive aces from Mya Sopata to close out the set.
- Set 4: Service aces helped UNF take an early 6-3 lead … UNF would keep UCA from making an extended run, keeping them at bay … the Sugar Bears would slowly gain the lead, taking one into the media timeout … Burkhardt and McFall teamed up for a block to give UNF a 17-16 lead … Jacqueline Arrington notched a kill and then teamed up with Kyla Solis for a block and a 21-19 lead for UNF … UCA closed out the match on a 4-0 run.
Leaders By the Numbers
UNF
UCA
- Mackenzie Vernon | 20 kills, .417 hitting percentage
- Caylin Koons | 59 assists, 15 digs
- Laci Bohannon | 20 kills, .425 hitting percentage
Notes
- It was the fifth meeting all-time between the two teams
- It was UNF's first home match since Sept. 10
- It was the first-ever match between UNF and UCA at home
- Kazmierski posted a season-best 11 assists
- It was Sopata's third-career double-digit kill performance
Up Next
North Florida stays home to host JU tomorrow night at 6 p.m.