Rollins Stuns No. 1 Tampa In Three Sets

WINTER PARK, Fla. - For the first time since 1995, the top-ranked University of Tampa Spartans fell to the Rollins College Tars on Saturday afternoon by a 3-0 score. Tampa drops to 10-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Sunshine State Conference while the Tars improve to 9-4 and 2-2.

In the opening set, RC raced out to a 12-6 lead to take control of the match. After a Tampa timeout, the Spartans were able to cut the lead to 20-16 but couldn't get any closer as the Tars won 25-17.

Set two mirrored the first with Tampa trailing 12-6 to start the game. UT was able to cut the deficit to three this time but couldn't stop the bleeding, losing 25-21.

The final frame was the closest of the match as the Spartans turned a five-point deficit into a three-point lead at 19-16, the team's largest advantage. However, the Tars went on a 9-2 run to close out the contest with a 25-21 victory.

It was the first time since 2008 that Tampa drop a conference game on the road (11/1 at Nova Southeastern) and just the fifth time in program history that Rollins has been victorious over the Spartans.

Senior Sarah Mendoza led the charge, totaling 16 kills on 50 swings and recorded 15 digs. Megan Hodges turned in 10 more kills, while Kiana Parks was perfect in three attempts and dished out 33 assists to go along with her 15 digs. Libero Christina Carracino tallied a match-high 22 digs.

Jessica Yingling led all Spartans with 11 kills followed by Eva Dupay with nine off the bench. Dupay also registered a season-high 11 digs in the match, as Yingling totaled 12 for her second double-double of the year.

Defensively, Tampa put up a season-low two blocks but limited the Tars to a .260 hitting percentage. Julie Howlett finished with 14 digs and Meghan Sherman chipped in eight more to go along with her 36 assists.

UT continues the road swing this Tuesday traveling to Saint Leo University for a 7 p.m. match. Live stats will be provided through tampaspartans.com and fans can follow the Spartans on Twitter at twitter.com/utspartans.