Sept. 12, 2008
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--In her return to her home state, Rachael Albright recorded a double-double with 17 assists and 12 digs, but it wasn't enough as the Kennesaw State volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 28-26) to North Florida on Friday night at UNF Arena.
The Owls fell behind early in set one, as three aces during a 6-0 run gave the Ospreys an 8-2 lead and sent KSU into a timeout. Another ace after the timeout put KSU down by seven before Chelsey Denesha's second kill of the set stopped the run. The Owls fell behind by eight, 12-4, before a 4-0 run by the Owls halved the lead. UNF would keep pushing ahead, extending the lead to eight again, 19-11, before the Owls took their final timeout of the set.
A pair of KSU hitting errors off the timeout pushed the lead to 10. Four points later, UNF had set point. A kill by Ginny Frederick helped the Owls fight off one set point, but a kill for UNF gave the Ospreys the opening set, 25-13.
The Owls took the first point of the second set, but UNF took the next five to take the lead. Churchwell's fourth kill of the match ended the run, but UNF scored the next three points to extend the lead, 8-2. UNF extended the lead to nine, but KSU recorded kills by Shanice Smith and Frederick to cut the lead to seven, 14-7. The Owls trimmed the lead to six, 19-13, after a block and kills by Sabrita Gulley and Denesha. UNF scored the next two points, but kills for Denesha and Rachael Albright cut the lead to six and sent UNF into a timeout.
After the timeout, the Ospreys took the first point, but a Denesha kill brought KSU back within six. But the lead would be too much as UNF would score the next three points to take the second set, 25-16.
Asjia Stokes gave KSU the first point of the third set with a kill, but much like the second set, UNF scored the next five to jump out in front. The Owls crept closer, getting a block from Gulley and Denesha and a Denesha kill to cut the lead to two, 6-4. The Owls would keep it close, as the Owls trailed 10-8 before a 3-0 spurt by UNF sent KSU into a timeout down by five.
The Owls won the first point off the timeout on a Smith kill. UNF scored the next point, but a service error and a KSU block brought the Owls within three. After a block by the Owls and a kill for Gulley, KSU was down 15-14 and the Ospreys asked for time.
The Ospreys took the first three points off the timeout to extend the lead back to four. A hitting error gave KSU back the serve down three, and another attack error by the Ospreys brought the visitors to within two. UNF took the next point to make it 19-16 and KSU asked for time.
The Owls won the first point after the timeout thanks to a UNF ball handling error. The teams traded points back-and-forth, with KSU unable to pull any closer than two. Finally, a kill by Stokes made the score 21-20 for UNF. Again the teams traded points, with KSU finally tying the score after a service ace for Stokes. Even at 23-all, UNF asked for its second timeout.
After the timeout, Gulley sent home an attack to give KSU set point. The Ospreys fought off the opportunity, and after a block had match point in hand. This time, the Owls fought off the clinching point as Gulley notched a kill. The Owls earned set point again after a Denesha kill, but again the Ospreys fought off set point. With the score even at 26-all, a service ace for UNF brought up match point again. This time, the match would end as a KSU attack error gave the Ospreys the third set, 28-26.
Churchwell led the Owls with seven kills, with Denesha and Gulley each adding six. The Owls had three players with over 10 kills, led by Selina O'Leary's match-high 13.
Agata Dawidowicz had nine kills and eight aces to spark the UNF attack.
The Owls will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Jacksonville. Match time is set for 5:00 p.m.
