Valient Comeback Falls Shorts For Nation’s Top Team

LAKELAND, Fla. - The top-ranked University of Tampa (24-2, 11-1) volleyball team lost only its second match of the year Tuesday, in a thrilling and close fought five game match. They were defeated by their rival, the Florida Southern Moccasins (22-6, 9-3), 3-2.

Game one showed the crowd on hand that this was going to be an exciting and hard fought match. The game went back and forth throughout its entirety. At one point, Tampa had game point, leading 29-27, until the Mocs battled back with three straight points to earn their first game point of the match. The Spartans were able to fight off the first match point, but were unable to battle back from the second, eventually losing game one 32-30 by the efforts of an Ashley Martin kill.

Florida Southern carried the momentum gained from game one into game two when they built a 12-9 lead. Tampa was able to climb back into the game, and tie the score at 13. However, the Spartans were never able to take control after that point, watching Southern build a 19-14 lead. The Mocs never looked back and were able to win game two in decisive fashion by a score of 30-20.

Tampa was able to come out of the break after game two, and play their best volleyball up to that point in the match. Game three was tied at eight, until Tampa was able to build a 20-13 advantage. The Mocs did everything they could to get back into
the game, and eventually tied the game at 22 apiece. After alternating service errors and kills, Tampa was finally able to put away game three, after a kill by senior, Katelen Dixon, and an attack error by the Mocs' Ashley Martin, The final score
was 32-30.

Just like the previous three, game four was a close fought intense battle, that no team was willing to lose. The game went back and forth, until Tampa was able to record its biggest lead of the game at 24-19. The lead was big enough to ensure the 32-30 game four win for Tampa, as red-shirt freshman Melissa Vanderhall was able to end the game in style, with her fourth solo block of the evening.

The final game of the night saw the Mocs come out hot, as they jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. The Spartans were never able to come back as Florida Southern was able to close out the match with a 15-10 game five victory.

The Spartan offensive attack saw five girls record double digit kills. Vanderhall, Alisha Green, and Dixon led all Spartans on the night with 15 kills. Erin Clark chipped in 14, while Macdonald added 11.

Margeuax Sinibaldi led the defensive effort with 21 digs on the night. Gabriella Saade had 18 digs of her own, while Dixon added 10. Tampa was able to record 11 total team digs against the Mocs. Vanderhall led the team with five blocks, while Dixon was able to stuff four attacks. Saade registered a team high 57 assists on the night.

The Spartans will look to get back on track, when they host Eckerd, on senior night. The match is scheduled to start at 4 pm.