Date Posted: 10/14/2006

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida volleyball team roared back from a one-game deficit to take a 3-1 victory over cross-town rival Jacksonville University in a SunTrust River City Rumble battle on Saturday afternoon at UNF Arena (23-30, 30-13, 31-29, 30- 27). UNF (11-13, 2-1 A-Sun) got double-doubles from Maegan Weisert and Amy Stroder and a giant spark off the bench from sophomore Bary Rasmussen in posting its second straight win against the Dolphins (9-11, 1-2 A-Sun).

Saturday's match also catapulted UNF past JU in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings. Weisert had 14 kills and 12 digs, and Stroder added 13 kills and a career-high 18 digs, to lead the way for UNF. Rasmussen didn't play in a lackluster game one for the Lady Ospreys but responded big off the bench in the final three games - finishing with 11 kills and eight blocks, both career highs. Neither team hit the ball particularly well, with UNF hitting .139 for the match with 33 errors, and JU just .111 with 32 errors.

The Lady Ospreys collected 12 blocks, however, and nine aces and had nine more kills than the Dolphins (62-53). "It is always good to win," UNF head coach Bryan Bunn said.

"Winning conference matches is important, and we need to get on a roll here to stay in the conference race. I thought our reserves really stepped up and gave us a lift. Bary came in and played really well, and Claire (Yonutas) served well. Allie Wolfe also had a great match defensively (15 digs). All of those were keys to us getting the win."

After struggling through the opening game - when they hit -0.018 - the Lady Ospreys caught fire in game two and quickly took control. Rasmussen collected four kills and three blocks, and Weisert added four kills, as UNF raced out to a 19-6 advantage. The Lady Ospreys hit .300 in the game, with just three errors, to tie the match at a game apiece. In game three, UNF jumped out to a 21-14 lead, but JU rallied to forge a 29-29 tie behind strong play from Petya Borisova, who collected six kills in the game. A pair of Dolphin errors sealed the outcome from there, giving UNF the victory.

In game four, the teams were tied six times down the stretch - the last at 26 - before UNF pulled away. Kills by Rasmussen and Allison O'Neill provided the difference in the final four points. Sara Bendorf had 19 kills and 15 digs for the Dolphins before leaving with a knee injury midway through game four, while Borisova added 11 kills and 13 digs.

Michelle Walroth had 34 digs - a school record in a four-game match. For UNF, Jenna Thomas paced the Lady Ospreys with 52 assists, while also recording 15 digs. Emily Kohler added 12 kills for UNF. The Lady Ospreys will return to action next Friday and Saturday in Atlantic Sun Conference play when they host Mercer on Friday at 7 p.m. and Stetson on Saturday at 3 p.m. UNF now leads the points race in the SunTrust River City Rumble Standings, 3-1.

Related Links:
 • UNF Website