The Seattle University volleyball team jumped out to a quick lead after the first set and then won the important points in the next two sets to sweep the University of North Florida, 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22), Saturday afternoon at the UNF Arena.
With the score tied 4-4 in the first set, Seattle University scored five of the next six points to take the early advantage. Later in the set, the Redhawks again went on a 5-1 run to extend their lead to 19-11, and then basically traded points with the Ospreys the rest of the way to win the opening set.
Neither team was able to gain a significant advantage in the second set, and the end of the set was marked by a series of runs. Down 20-19, Seattle University received a kill and a block from both Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) and Libby Graff (Beaverton, Ore.) to go up 22-20. North Florida responded with three straight points to retake the lead before the Redhawks finished off the set with consecutive kills by Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) and an Osprey attack error.
After the intermission, North Florida (8-10) held a 17-14 lead before the Redhawks responded with a block by Beckerman and Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.), followed by a kill for Beckerman set up by Mellies, two North Florida attack errors, and a service ace from Richards. The home team would close the gap to 23-22, but Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) posted a kill and clinched the match with a service ace.
Dill led Seattle University with ten kills, with Richards notching eight kills, three service aces, and two block assists. Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) finished with six kills and six total blocks, while Mellies collected 27 assists, seven digs, and three total blocks and libero Shelly Anderson (Bothell, Wash.) led all players with 15 defensive digs.
Agata Dawidowicz led the Ospreys with 13 kills and two service aces, with Kaley Read earning six kills, seven digs, and three total blocks. Setter Madie Belvin finished with 24 assists, two service aces, and seven digs, and Marshay Greenlee added five kills and a team-high four block assists to the effort.
Seattle University (8-14) concludes its weekend road trip to the southeastern part of the country with a match against Savannah State Sunday, Oct. 19, beginning at 11 a.m. local time. After a midweek trip to the eastern part of Washington to face Eastern Washington and Gonzaga, the Redhawks return to the Connolly Center for a match against Cal State Bakersfield Saturday, Oct.25, beginning at 7 p.m.