JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of North Florida (UNF) Beach Volleyball Team is poised to extend their historic postseason journey as they gear up for Friday's matches.
Following their triumph in the ASUN conference, the Ospreys secured the number 16 seed in the national tournament, marking a milestone in the program's history.
UNF will make its inaugural appearance in the national tournament, facing off against the number 17 seed Chattanooga in the opening round on Friday morning at 9 a.m. in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The match will be televised on ESPN-U.
The victor will advance to challenge the number one seed USC later that afternoon at 1 p.m.
Head Coach Doug Wright expressed confidence in the team's preparedness, stating, "We just talked about everything matters. We want to be the best at nutrition, the best at recovery, the best at making sure we get enough sleep and I think our team has done a very good job of that."
Redshirt junior blocker Iris Fletcher echoed the sentiment, noting the team's resilience under pressure, stating, "We have been in a lot of pressure situations, so this team is great under pressure."
This encounter marks the first meeting between the Ospreys and Chattanooga in program history. However, UNF has faced USC twice before, with their most recent matchup during the 2023 season in Miami Beach, Florida.
UNF enters the postseason tournament as one of eight non-Power Five schools and one of 17 teams overall to qualify for the national stage.