University of North Florida
3-3,0-0ASUN
Harvard
0-2,0-0Ivy League
Volleyball Continues To Impress At UNF Invitational With Win Over Harvard
9/6/2025 9:00:00 PM | Volleyball
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.Â
- 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.
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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.
