#2 Tampa Salvages Split in Final Day of UNA Regional Crossover

FLORENCE, Ala. - Following a 3-0 loss to #20 West Florida (18-7), the #2 University of Tampa volleyball team responded with a 3-0 victory over Alabama-Huntsville (1-23). UT concluded the three-match University of North Alabama Regional Crossover Tournament with a pair of victories.

In the match against West Florida, the Argonauts avenged an early season loss to UT while taking the match by scores of 25-23, 25-22 and 25-22. The Spartans led just once in the match as it got out to a 6-0 lead in the second set, though there were a total of 10 ties throughout the match.

The Spartans committed seven service errors in the match, including five in the first set as UWF had just three. The Argonauts also outpaced UT in service aces, 3-1. The teams both had 19 attack errors as UWF hit .232, while UT came in at .207. Each team tallied eight total blocks.

Melissa Vanderhall and Annalea Warren each had 12 kills to lead Tampa as Sam Macks registered an .857 hitting percentage while going 6-7. Gabriela Saade dished out 32 assists.

Camila Saade posted a team high with 14 digs as fellow libero Julie Howlett added eight. Macks led UT with four total blocks as she joined Warren, Vanderhall and Eileen Bien-Aime as Spartans to tally a solo block.

Against Alabama-Huntsville, the Spartans controlled the match from the beginning as head coach Chris Catanach toyed with a variety of different lineups using his young players. UT used 14 players, including all six of its freshmen.

After winning the first set by a score of 25-12, Tampa finished off the Chargers with respective 25-19 and 25-9 victories to secure the match.

Brianne Yeates led the Spartans with a career high nine kills. Kaleigh Cunningham added six as Meghan Sherman held team honors with 23 assists.

Howlett had a team high 12 digs while Vanderhall, Bien-Aime, Cunningham, Yeates and Janae Nelson each had one block. For the match, UT held UAH to a -.026 hitting percentage.

Tampa returns home where it will face a pair of Sunshine State Conference matches, beginning with Saint Leo on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Spartans will then wear pink in Friday's match with Florida Southern as part of its "Dig for the Cure" fundraiser.

UT will offer live stats and a webcast for both matches through www.tampaspartans.com. Fans may also sign up for eScores through the website, a free service that sends text messages on Spartan athletic events.