Video by Joslyn Simmons and Ronetha Rogers
The Ospreys lost to the Lipscomb Bisons in three straight sets, to start home conference play on Friday night in the UNF Arena.
During the first set, the Ospreys (10-7 overall, 1-1 ASUN) missed many scoring opportunities while the Bisons (8-5 overall, 1-1 ASUN) were able to find holes in UNF’s defense. Players from both teams could be seen jumping, diving, and tumbling like acrobats on the court. The night was filled with many big swings, hits, blocks and digs by both sides.
There was a struggle for dominance, with the set being tied 10 times, and there being five lead changes. UNF called both of their timeouts during the set in an effort to gain momentum. UNF had no answer for the Bison’s 15 kills. They came up short, losing the set 25-18.
The Ospreys started off hot during the second set. UNF went on a 5-0 run, causing Lipscomb to take an early timeout. Lipscomb came out of the timeout with added energy to tie the set at 10. UNF was out killed 17-9. The Bisons did not look back, and won its second set 25-20.
The third set was full of long rallies. UNF would not lose its first conference game at home without a fight. There were 11 tie scores as the set went point for point. Lipscomb continued to pushed the ball and found the holes in the Ospreys’ defense.
UNF was up 19-17 when Lipscomb took a timeout to slow the game down. Out of the timeout, the Bisons scored two straight points to tie the game at 19.
Head Coach Steve Loeswick spoke on the team’s play at the net.
“We did some really good things at the net, we blocked some balls,” Loeswick said.
Out of the timeout momentum was on Lipscomb’s side, to seal the final set and the game 25-22 on a UNF service error.
“Overall it was a solid match, but we’re not satisfied,” Loeswick said on how the team played.
UNF senior middle blocker Morgan Van Alstine had a game high of eight blocks. Van Alstine is third in the nation in total blocks.
No players for UNF had double figures for kills or digs unlike previous matches.
Loeswick spoke on the strategy for future games in the UNF arena.
“We’re going to try to stay aggressive on our home court, make sure we’re serving tough and to defend a lot of ball,” said Loeswick
UNF will play Kennesaw State at the UNF Arena on Oct 1. at 5 p.m.
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