Spartans Split Second Day of Jacksonville Dolphin Duels

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Spartans split the second day of Jacksonville Dolphin Duels.

Final Scores:

Tampa 2, Tusculum 3

Tampa 3, Jacksonville 2

Record: Tampa 1-3

Location: Payne Sand Volleyball Courts || Jacksonville, Fla.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

v.s. Tusculum: The Spartans squared off against Tusculum to start Day 2. Following along with the normal three-court format the 2s and 4s were the first to play. Tampa started with the same pairings as they did in Saturday's afternoon matches. Hailey Wolfe and Payton Brunick looked convincing in both sets of their two-set win. The pair fell behind only once in the match, at 4-2 in the first set. (1-0 Tampa) In the 4s for the second consecutive match were Cassidy Ehrie and Madison Mandeville. The pair dominated the first set due to a five-point run that put them up eight after the technical timeout. The second was more of a back-and-forth set, neither team could gain more than a few-point advantage, and the pioneers edged out Tampa in extra points sending it to a third. Tusculum started the third set on a 7-2 run that proved to be too large for the Spartans to recover from. (1-1 Tie) Following the 2s and 4s were the 1s, 3s, and 5s. Julia Oswald and Angel Williams made quick work in the 1s in both of the first two sets, winning by a combined margin of 19 points. (2-1 Tampa) Playing again in the 5s were Kalli Cors and Anna Chechelnytska. They would fall in a close first set after failing to recover from an early six-point deficit but dominated the second, holding the pioneers to under double digits. The third set was tight up until the Pioneers took control of the match using two small runs following a side switch at 8-7. Tusculum took the 4s in three sets. (2-2 Tie) Madison Brunick and Nevaeh Wolfe jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first set of the 3s, but the Pioneers would battle all the way back to take the first. The Spartans responded convincingly in the second sending the match to a third set, however, Tusculum found a way to edge out Tampa in the third, taking the duel. (3-2 Tusculum)  

v.s. Jacksonville: In the second match of the back-to-back, and final match of the weekend head coach Jeff Lamm mixed up the Spartans lineup again, looking to end the weekend on a high note. The 2's remained the same but this time it was Ehrie and Keely Hamilton in the 4s. In a first set that featured multiple runs from each team, the Spartans managed to edge out Tusculum. The second set was similar to the first, with both teams making runs but it was the Spartans again who came out on top. (1-0 Tampa) Meanwhile, the 2s played in a similar fashion. The first set opened with a 4-0 run from Tampa followed by a 5-0 run from the Dolphins. The rest of the first was close until Tampa used a four-point run to separate themselves late in the set. Jacksonville looked to respond in the second and force a third but the Spartans took control of the second early and would win in convincing fashion. (2-0 Tampa) Oswald and Williams battled in the 1s for much of the first set, but JU pulled away late. In the second set, the Dolphins were able to build a five-point lead early that set them up to take the second set. (2-1 Tampa) Returning as a pairing in the 5s were Cors and Alivia Horn. The pair's second appearance together was a complete reversal of the first. A back-and-forth battle in the first set was decided by a late push from the Spartans. The second set went point for point until a small three-point run from Tampa put them in the driver's seat and a late four-point run helped seal the deal for this matchup and the duel. (3-1 Tampa) The last match of the weekend to finish was the 3s. Jacksonville jumped out to an early 9-3 lead in the first, and although they battled hard, it was too little too late for the Spartans. They did, however, respond well in the second and took the set with three straight points and forced a third. Service and communication errors plagued the Spartans however, giving way to a Jacksonville win in the third set. (3-2 Tampa)

UP NEXT: The Spartans host a full weekend of beach volleyball at home from Friday 3/3 through Sunday 3/5.