Top-Ranked Spartans Roll Over North Alabama

FLORENCE, Ala. - Taking on the hosts of the UNA Classic, the No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans (9-2) picked up a sweep of the North Alabama University Lions (6-4) on Saturday afternoon. Tampa has now won 13 consecutive sets and improves to 4-0 in South Region action.

The Spartans came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set, slamming home 14 kills at a .462 attack rate to win 25-11. Tampa also forced nine errors from the Lions to hold them to a -.111 clip.

UNA regrouped in the second game as the two teams exchanged points till the score was tied at 15. Tampa capitalized on an attack error by the Lions and Danielle Selkridge put down a kill to give the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish. UT went on a 10-3 run to win 25-18 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

UT ran away with the final frame, using an 8-0 run to lead 12-5 and closed the contest with a 25-14 triumph. Selkridge put away four kills in the set and had her hand in a pair of blocks.

Tampa used a balanced offense throughout the match as 10 different players tallied at least one kill. Jessica Yingling finished with a game-high eight kills while Selkridge ended up with six. Sam Macks and Melissa Vanderhall chipped in with five more kills and Camille Hanks was perfect in four attacks.

Senior setter Meghan Sherman handed out 27 assists and paced UT to a .312 hitting percentage for the match.

Defensively, the Spartans put up 11 blocks, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season. Selkridge was one of eight different players for UT to be involved in a block, finishing with four. Julie Howlett led the Spartans with 11 digs, while Vanderhall added nine more to limit UNA to a .000 attack percentage. Tampa has held its opponents to under a .100 clip for four straight contests.

Libero Lauren Greenhill led North Alabama with 15 digs, and Sarah Roberts had a team-high six for the Lions.

Tampa finally returns home to the Bob Martinez Sports Center this Wednesday to face SSC rival Florida Southern (9-1) at 7 p.m. Webcast and live stats will be provided through tampaspartans.com.