JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball was dominant in a four-set victory, defeating Presbyterian, 3-1, as hosts of its first match in the UNF Invitational on Friday afternoon at UNF Arena.

The Ospreys came out firing in set one with a 25-17 win. Presbyterian answered with a 25-20 win in set two. UNF dominated down the stretch and took the final two sets 25-23, 25-16.

Junior middle blocker Yarimar Francis Garay was a force with a single-match career-high 16 kills. Garay added five blocks defensively. Senior libero Maymie Guthrie was flying around the back row for the Ospreys, notching a team-high 22 digs.

Freshman setter Sofia Dawson led the Ospreys in assists with 33. Dawson has led UNF in assists in all five of its matches and tallied 30 assists or more for the second time this season.

UNF 3, UIC 1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-23, 25-16)

Set 1: North Florida jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind back-to-back kills by Yarimar Francis Garay. A 6-2 run from the Ospreys capped off by an ace from senior middle blocker Kierstyn McFall extended North Florida's lead to 23-15 en route to the set victory.
Set 2: The Ospreys faced a 7-3 deficit in the early going but fought back to knot the score at 10 apiece. McFall registered a kill and an ace amid North Florida's comeback. Presbyterian finished the set on a 15-10 run to win the set.
Set 3: North Florida took a commanding 9-4 lead following a 9-2 run that featured kills from Garay, McFall, Spurrier and senior opposite Mackenzie Piester. The Ospreys never lost their lead for the rest of the frame.
Set 4: The Ospreys kept their foot on the gas early in the fourth set, boasting a 9-3 lead following a kill by freshman middle blocker Katelyn Bowman. A 5-0 run with two kills from Garay amid the set saw North Florida's set-lead grow as large as 17-7 before cruising to the match victory.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Yarimar Francis Garay | 16 kills
Sofia Dawson | 33 assists
Maymie Guthrie | 22 digs

UIC
Anisa Dorlouis | 22 kills
Aubrie Arnold | 42 assists
Aubrie Arnold | 21 digs

NOTES

• Garay set a career high in kills with 16.
• Guthrie posted a team-high 22 digs.
• Spurrier set a season high in kills with five.
• Graduate outside hitter Janelly Ceopa set a season-high in kills with nine.
• Freshman middle blocker Katelyn Bowman set a career-high in kills with six.
• Ceopa notched .400 hitting and Garay turned in a team-high .536 hitting.
• Freshman middle blocker Haleina Bowers made her collegiate debut for the Ospreys.
• All 15 of North Florida's active players tallied a set played.

UP NEXT
North Florida will battle Harvard at the UNF Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 6, with first serve set for 2 p.m., at UNF Arena.