SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - North Florida volleyball showed relentless effort in its matinee matchup, securing a thrilling come-from-behind five-set victory over UT Arlington, 3-2, in its final match at the Roadrunner Classic on Saturday afternoon.

UNF 3, UTA 2 (22-25, 25-18, 15-25, 29-27, 15-12)

Set 1: North Florida trailed 5-0 in the early going, but fought back to tie the score at 15 apiece following a kill by Doctor. McKnight extended UNF's lead to 17-12 with a kill, capping off a 6-0 run for the Ospreys amid the set. However, UT Arlington went on a 4-0 surge of their own down the stretch en route to a 25-22 victory.
Set 2: The Ospreys jumped out to a 6-2 lead largely behind four kills from Newbold early on. Francis Garay and Doctor combined for three-straight kills amid the set, allowing North Florida to command a 13-9 advantage. Two kills from McFall and one apiece by Newbold and Francis Garay down the stretch propelled the Ospreys to a 25-18 win.
Set 3: Francis Garay was dominant defensively to start the set, posting two block assists in the first seven points. Neither side led by more than two points until UT Arlington took an 11-8 lead with an ace en route to a 25-15 victory.
Set 4: North Florida showed no signs of quit, trailing 2-1 in the match and 8-3 in the early going of set four. A massive and timely 7-0 run that featured kills from Francis Garay, McKnight and Newbold knotted the score at 13 midway through. The Ospreys kept their foot on the gas and found themselves in a win-by-two scenario. Trailing 27-26, North Florida scored three-straight points fueled by kills from McKnight and junior libero Emma Pohlmann to secure a thrilling 29-27 win.
Set 5: A kill by McKnight and a block assist from Dawson and McFall allowed North Florida to comfortably lead 7-4. Newbold and McKnight slammed the door shut, combining for three kills as well as North Florida's final three points, bringing the match to its final margin.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Kendall Newbold | 15 kills
Sofia Dawson | 39 assists
Maymie Guthrie | 20 digs

UTA
Jalie Tritt | 18 kills
Mira Ledermueller | 47 assists
Samantha Glenn | 19 digs

NOTES

• Dawson set a career-high with 39 assists.
• It was Guthrie's second time this season posting 20 digs or more.
• McKnight tallied a season-high 14 kills.
• McKnight notched a double-double with 14 kills and 17 digs.
• Three Ospreys (McKnight, Guthrie, freshman outside hitter Leah McDonald posted double-digit digs.
• Three Ospreys (McKnight, Newbold, Francis Garay) registered double-digit kills.

 
UP NEXT
North Florida will open ASUN Conference play on the road at West Georgia on Friday, Sept. 26. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at The Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga.