JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball put its talent on display in a four-set victory, defeating Harvard, 3-1, as hosts of the UNF Invitational on Saturday afternoon at UNF Arena.

The Ospreys started hot in the first set with a 25-17 win. Harvard equaled the match at one set apiece with a 25-19 win in set two. UNF dominated down the stretch, taking the final two sets 25-17, 25-16.

Freshman opposite Kendall Newbold led the way with a team and career-high kills for the Ospreys. Senior opposite Mackenzie Piester added double-digit kills with 10 total. Freshman setter Sofia Dawson posted a match-high 28 assists and has led the Ospreys in assists in all six of its matches.

Redshirt freshman libero Juliann Santiago was dominant at the service line with a match-high four aces. Piester, senior middle blocker Kierstyn McFall and junior middle blocker Yarimar Francis Garay were solid at the net with four blocks each.

UNF 3, HARV 1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-17, 25-16)

Set 1: The Ospreys stormed back from an 8-4 deficit with a 6-0 run that featured kills from McFall and Garay to command a 10-4 lead. Piester led the way with four kills in the set, including the final point of the frame that gave the Ospreys a 25-22 win.
Set 2: North Florida jumped out to a 6-1 lead but was unable to build off its momentum. A kill by Newbold and an ace by Santiago gave the Ospreys an 18-15 edge, though Harvard closed out the set on a 7-1 run to earn the set victory.
Set 3: The Ospreys came out firing with a 10-2 lead behind three kills from Newbold. North Florida's lead grew to 18-4 following an ace by graduate outside hitter Janelly Ceopa. A skip-set kill by Dawson gave the Ospreys the set-winning point.
Set 4: North Florida closed out the match victory in dominant fashion. An 8-1 run amid the set fueled by three kills from Newbold gave the Ospreys a 20-13 lead. UNF closed out the set on a 5-3 run to seal the match win.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Kendall Newbold | 16 kills
Sofia Dawson | 28 assists
Maymie Guthrie | 12 digs
Juliann Santiago | 4 aces

HARV
Sofia Rossi | 17 kills
Sophia Wei | 19 assists
Sophia Wei | 8 digs

NOTES

• Newbold posted a team and career-high with 16 kills.
• Five different Ospreys (Piester, Ceopa, Dawson, Garay, McFall) tallied kills in the first set. 
• Senior outside hitter Kailey McKnight tallied two kills, her first since returning from an injury in 2023.
• The Ospreys registered 50 kills to Harvard's 46 total.
• Redshirt Freshman libero Julianna Santiago notched a match-high four aces.
• McKnight and Newbold posted .500 hitting and Dawson recorded .400 hitting.
• Dawson has led the Ospreys in assists in all six matches this season.
   

UP NEXT

North Florida will battle Howard at the UNF Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 7, with first serve set for 2 p.m., at UNF Arena.