#9 Tampa Sweeps Opening Day Of Colorado Premier

DENVER - The ninth-ranked University of Tampa volleyball team (5-0) picked up two wins in the opening day of the Colorado Premier Volleyball Challenge over Northwest Nazarene and No. 25 Augustana. The Spartans did not drop a set in either game as they advance to the gold division in the tournament.

In the first game, both teams were back and forth until UT raced out to a 10-5 lead and maintained the five point advantage to win the first set 25-20. Tampa would cruise in the next set 25-11, and sealed the win with a 25-21 decision.

The Spartans were led by freshman Jessica Yingling and junior Melissa Vanderhall as each recorded a double-double in kills and digs. Each tallied 13 kills, which were tops on the team, and Yingling led with 16 digs, while Vanderhall totaled 10. Vanderhall though maintained a better hitting percentage finishing with a .400 clip, and Yingling .323. Kaleigh Cunningham was one kill away from obtaining a double-double of her own as she finished with nine kills and 11 digs.

Tampa played solid defensively racking up 60 digs as sophomore libero Julie Howlett pitched in with 13. UT also collected nine blocks opposed to the Crusaders' four. Camille Hanks and Sam Macks registered a solo block along with Yingling, and Cunningham. Junior setter Meghan Sherman tallied up 41 assists, as well as two service aces.

In the second match against #25 Augustana, the Spartans never trailed at any point winning by scores of 25-20, 25-20, and 25-15.

Yingling led the way once again as she finished with a team-high 11 kills. Not to be outdone however, Vanderhall put up 10 kills on an incredible .529 clip while committing only one error. Hanks chipped in with eight kills and Sherman turned in a season-high seven. Tampa finished with 49 kills on .398.

Defense played a large role again as the Spartans out-blocked the Vikings 12-3. Hanks collected a solo block along with four assisted, and Danielle Selkridge was credited with four assisted blocks as well. No Spartans registered double-digit digs although eight players had at least one, totaling 32. Vanderhall led with eight, and Howlett and Sherman each ended with seven. Sherman also turned in 33 assists.

UT now advances to the gold division and will square off in a top-ten showdown with No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (6-0) at Regis University at noon MDT on Saturday. The loser will play after in the third place game at 5 p.m. MDT, while the winner plays for the tournament crown at 7 p.m. MDT. Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook. UT also offers eScores, which is a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events.