Volleyball Drops Weekend Opener To Winthrop

Thursday, September 11

Greenville, S.C. / Alley Gymnasium

3 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-5,0-0ASUN

Winthrop

3-3,0-0Big South

Winthrop

North Florida

9/11/2025 5:00:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball battled in its three-set match, falling to Winthrop, 3-0, in its first match in the Furman Invite on Thursday afternoon at Alley Gymnasium.

Senior middle blocker Kierstyn McFall led the way offensively for the Ospreys with a team-high 10 kills and a match-high .500 hitting. Junior middle blocker Yarimar Francis Garay and junior outside hitter Kaili Doctor each added seven kills total.

Defensively, senior outside hitter Kailey McKnight held it down in the back row for North Florida with a team-high six digs. Garay, freshman opposite Kendall Newbold and senior opposite Mackenzie Piester all notched two blocks total. Freshman setter Sofia Dawson dished out a team-high 22 assists.

UNF 0, WIN 3 (19-25, 23-25, 14-25)

Set 1: The Ospreys commanded an early 6-5 lead behind two kills from Piester and one by outside hitter Dakota Spurrier. Garay tallied a pair of kills late in the set to cut North Florida's deficit to 22-18, though the Ospreys dropped the frame 25-19.
Set 2: A 4-0 run by North Florida fueled by kills from Garay, McFall, Dawson and Doctor had the Ospreys tied with Winthrop at 10 apiece. North Florida took a 16-14 advantage following a block from Garay and Piester and an ace from junior libero Emma Pohlmann. Winthrop closed out the set on a 11-7 run to earn the 25-23 victory despite North Florida's valiant effort.
Set 3: The Ospreys showed fight after facing an 11-0 deficit to cut Winthrop's lead to just 17-12 with two kills coming from Doctor and one from Garay midway through the set. Winthrop took five of the final six points in the set, bringing the score to its final margin.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Kierstyn McFall | 10 kills
Sofia Dawson | 22 assists
Kailey McKnight | 6 digs

WIN
Avery Jolley | 14 kills
Rachel McCollum | 28 assists
Paige Bennett | 11 digs

NOTES
Sophomore setter Kacey Kazmierski made her first start of 2025 for the Ospreys.
McKnight posted a team-high six digs.
McFall was one of just two players in the match to tally double-digit kills.
McFall posted a match-high .500 hitting.

UP NEXT
North Florida will take on Furman at the Furman Invite on Friday, Sept. 12, with first serve set for 6 p.m., at Alley Gymnasium.