University of North Florida
8-15,2-8ASUN
Stetson
8-14,4-6ASUN
Volleyball Shows Fight, Falls To Stetson In Five Sets
10/26/2025 4:00:00 PM | Volleyball
DELAND, Fla. - North Florida volleyball battled hard on the road, falling in a competitive five-set match, 3-2, at Stetson on Sunday.
A handful of Ospreys had performances to remember. Freshman setter Sofia Dawson set a career-high in assists with 52, and fellow freshman opposite Kendall Newbold notched a career-high in kills with 18 total on .289 hitting.
Redshirt freshman libero Julianna Santiago led the way in the back row with a career-high 22 digs. Graduate outside hitter Kailey McKnight added a season-high in kills with 16.
UNF 2, STE 3 (26-24, 25-18, 17-25, 24-26, 9-15)
Set 1: North Florida stormed out to a 6-0 lead fueled by three kills from McKnight. The graduate outside hitter was sensational early, posting a match-high eight kills in set one. Newbold tallied the final two points for the Ospreys with a pair of kills to seal the win.
Set 2: McKnight continued to impress, tallying three-straight kills for UNF amid the set to command a 15-13 advantage. With the score knotted at 17, Newbold buried back-to-back kills to give North Florida a two-point edge and posted another on set-point for the victory.
Set 3: Stetson answered with 12 team kills and four total blocks to extend the match to set four.
Set 4: North Florida dominated its way to an 8-2 lead behind two kills by McFall and one apiece from junior middle blocker Yarimar Francis Garay and graduate outside hitter Janelly Ceopa. The Ospreys held a 12-6 edge amid the set, however, Stetson responded with a 20-12 surge down the stretch, sending the match to set five.
Set 5: Newbold put down two kills early to help North Florida hold a 5-4 advantage. But Stetson was solid in the latter stages with a 7-1 run, bringing the match to its final margin.Â
LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Kendall Newbold | 18 kills
Sofia Dawson | 52 assists
Julianna Santiago | 22 digs
STE
Zuzanna Bury | 27 kills
Nyah Molina | 46 assists
Vitoria Stedile | 25 digs
NOTES
- Three Ospreys (Newbold [18], McKnight [16], McFall [14]) posted 10 kills or more.
- Dawson posted a career-high in assists with 52 total, surpassing her previous career-high of 39.
- Newbold notched a career-high in kills with 18 total.
- McKnight tallied a season-high in kills with 16 total.
- Santiago registered a career-high in digs with 22 total.
- McFall posted .355 hitting and Dawson added .300 hitting.
UP NEXT
North Florida returns home to face its crosstown rival Jacksonville in the River City Rumble on Thursday Oct. 30. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at UNF Arena.
