Volleyball Earns Five-Set Thrilling Victory Over Jacksonville

Thursday, October 30

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

9-15,3-8ASUN

Jacksonville

18-5,9-2ASUN

Jacksonville

North Florida

Volleyball Earns Five-Set Thrilling Victory Over Jacksonville

10/30/2025 10:30:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida volleyball put its talents on display, defeating Jacksonville in a five-set thriller, 3-2, in the River City Rumble on Thursday.

A handful of Ospreys had sensational performances. Graduate outside hitter Kailey McKnight posted a career-high 24 kills on .360 hitting to go with six digs.

Freshman libero Julianna Santiago had a remarkable night for the Ospreys in the back row, tallying a career-high 28 digs. Freshman setter Sofia Dawson facilitated the offense at an elite level, notching a new career-high in assists with 57 total.

UNF 3, JU 2 (19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 18-16)

Set 1: Facing a 7-1 deficit, North Florida fought hard and stormed back to come with two points of JU, trailing 14-12 following one of McKNight's 24 kills in the match. However, the Dolphins built momentum down the stretch to earn the win.
Set 2: North Florida's offense was sensational, posting 20 kills to Jacksonville's eight to help earn the win.
Set 3: North Florida responded in dominant fashion, jumping out to a 7-4 advantage behind a pair of kills apiece from Newbold and Francis Garay. Three kills in four points from McKnight helped the Ospreys command a 18-13 edge. Francis Garay sealed the victory with back-to-back kills on the final two points.
Set 4: With the score knotted at 11, Santiago served an ace to give the Ospreys a one-point edge. Jacksonville jumped ahead 18-14 amid the set, though junior libero Emma Pohlman capped off a 4-0 run for UNF with an ace of her own to tie the score. JU sent the match to a deciding fifth set with a pair of kills on the final two points.
Set 5: Trailing 4-2, North Florida was faced to win the set in come-from-behind fashion and did just that. Clutch kills from graduate outside hitter Janelly Ceopa and McKnight amid the set knotted the score at eight. McKnight's 24th kill put the Ospreys ahead 17-16, winning the match on the next point on a JU attack error.

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