JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball fell in a back-and-forth match to Florida State, 3-0, in its second match of the 2025 North Florida Sunshine Tournament presented by Sheraton at UNF Arena on Saturday night.
North Florida was fiercely competitive in the initial two sets with a margin difference of three or less in each, but fell 25-23 in set one and 25-22 in set two. Florida State carried its momentum into set three to secure the match victory.
Freshman opposite hitter
Kendall Newbold notched her first career start and posted a team-high 28 attacks and 10 kills, in addition to four blocks. Junior middle blocker
Yarimar Francis Garay turned in team-highs with four blocks and .333 hitting.
UNF 0, FSU 3 (23-25, 22-25, 17-25)
Set 1: North Florida jumped out to an 8-4 lead behind a pair of kills by senior middle blocker
Kierstyn McFall in early action. Florida State responded with a 21-15 run to earn the victory.
Set 2: North Florida and Florida State tallied an even split of kills with 12. The Ospreys led 22-21, but the Seminoles closed out the set on a 4-0 run to seal the set win.
Set 3: North Florida fought back from an 11-2 deficit with a 4-0 run to pull within five points of Florida State. Junior libero/defensive specialist
Emma Pohlmann served an ace and Garay posted one kill amid the run. Florida State used .364 hitting in the set to secure the victory.
LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Kendall Newbold | 10 kills
Sofia Dawson | 21 assists
Kaili Doctor | 10 kills
FSU
Iane Henke | 17 kills
Nellie Stevenson | 17 assists
Mio Yamamoto | 12 digs
NOTES
- Freshman opposite hitter Kendall Newbold made her first collegiate start for North Florida and registered 10 kills.
- North Florida served eight aces to Florida State's seven.
- Junior outside hitter Kaili Doctor posted nine kills and is now two kills away from 500 in her career.
- Senior middle blocker Kierstyn McFall surpassed 600 career kills with three and now stands at 602.
- Three Ospreys (Garay, McFall, Doctor) notched .290 hitting or better and Garay posted a team-high .333.
UP NEXT
North Florida battles UIC at the North Florida Sunshine Tournament presented by Sheraton on Sunday, Aug. 31, with first serve set for 11 a.m., at UNF Arena.
