Spartans Split in Doubleheader

LAKELAND, Fla. – The University of Tampa beach volleyball team split when playing on the road today in Lakeland, Florida. After both contests, Tampa's overall record improves to 8-8.

In their first dual, UT swept the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters 5-0. Tampa handily defeated the Railsplitters without losing a single set. The match marked the first time this season that Katie McKiel teamed up with Gabbi Pacatte, and that Nicole Dominguez partnered with Leigh Buttner. Both partner pairs won in two, 21-18, 21-12 and 21-13, 21-17 respectively.

In the second dual of the day, Head Coach Jeff Lamm kept the lineup the same as he did in the Lincoln Memorial dual. The first two games were played by the No. 4 and No. 5 positions.  Nylah Demps and Taylor George were the first team of Spartans to defeat the Moccasins in the No. 5 position. The duo won in two sets by scores of 21-17, 21-19. The only other win for Tampa came from Sorrel Houghton and Melissa Elias in the No. 1 position. The freshmen pair lost the first set 19-21, before coming back to win the next two 21-14, and 15-9. The Florida Southern Moccasins defeated the Tampa Spartans 3-2.

DUAL 1:
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tampa Spartans 5, Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters 0
Records: Tampa (8-7), Lincoln Memorial (5-4)
Location: Ruthven Beach | Lakeland, Fla.
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MATCH RESULTS:

1. Sorrel Houghton / Melissa Elias (UT) def. Abby Cash/Lindsey Nartker (LMU) 21-15, 21-14


2. Katie McKiel / Gabbi Pacatte (UT) def. Hailey Lake/Danielle Ged (LMU) 21-18, 21-12


3. Nicole Dominguez / Leigh Buttner (UT) def. Erica Whiteaker/Rylee Storms (LMU) 21-13, 21-17

4. Sarah Moore / Alexandra Misca (UT) def. Danielle Stachura/Kai Wesemann (LMU) 21-13, 21-18

5. Nylah Demps / Taylor George (UT) def. Sarah Jones/Kayla Kidney (LMU) 21-12, 21-10

ORDER OF FINISH:

• 5, 4, 3, 1, 2

DUAL 2:
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tampa Spartans 2, Florida Southern Moccasins 3
Records: Tampa (8-8), Florida Southern (4-13)
Location: Ruthven Beach | Lakeland, Fla.
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MATCH RESULTS:

1. Sorrel Houghton / Melissa Elias (UT) def. Anna Tovo/Allie Geary (FSC) 19-21, 21-14, 15-9


2. Sydney Marshall/Makena Wilson (FSC) def. Gabbi Pacatte / Katie McKiel (UT) 21-14, 19-21, 15-11

3. Lauren Kenny/Nicole Mattson (FSC) def. Leigh Buttner / Nicole Dominguez (UT) 21-16, 23-21


4. Kayla Trefren/Gabbi Fresh (FSC) def. Alexandra Misca / Sarah Moore (UT) 21-12, 21-9


5. Nylah Demps / Taylor George (UT) def. Courtney Charneco/Katie Bergeron (FSC) 21-17, 21-19

ORDER OF FINISH:

• 4, 5, 3, 1, 2
  
  

 BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• In its first season of play, the Spartans have split in the all-time series against Florida Southern, 1-1.
• Nylah Demps and Taylor George went undefeated on the day. The two did not drop a single set.
• Sorrel Houghton and Melissa Elias went undefeated on the day.

UP NEXT:
On Tuesday, April 3^rd, Tampa will head to St. Leo, Florida where the team will compete against SSC foe, the Saint Leo Lions. This will be the second meeting this season between the two schools, with UT having won the first dual 3-2.

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