Yingling Powers No. 5 Tampa to 3-1 Win Over Lynn

TAMPA, Fla. - Despite dropping the first set, the No. 5 University of Tampa Spartans volleyball team bounced back to defeat the Lynn University Fighting Knights by a 3-1 margin on Friday night at the Martinez Center. Tampa improves to 12-3 on the season and 4-1 in the Sunshine State Conference while Lynn drops to 9-5 and 2-3.

The opening game was a tough-fought battle between the two teams, featuring 11 tie scores but just two lead changes as Lynn was able to stay out in front and win 27-25.

Tampa found itself in an early hole to start the second frame and trailed 21-17 at one point when the Spartans mounted a comeback. A kill by Camille Hanks sparked an 8-2 run that got Tampa on the board with a 25-23 victory.

After the break, UT set an early tone by taking a commanding 8-1 lead over the Fighting Knights. Tampa went on to win 25-11 and hit at a blazing .524 attack percentage as Kaleigh Cunningham put down four kills on six swings.

The final game of the match saw UT out to another early lead and cruised to a 25-16 triumph to take the match.

Jessica Yingling registered eight kills in the final frame on her way to a career high of 19 for the match. The sophomore also notched a .409 hitting percentage and helped out defensively with five digs and two blocks.

Senior Sam Macks was the only other Spartan with double figures in kills with 10 and did so at a .471 clip. Eva Dupay and Cunningham finished the contest with nine kills each, and Cunningham also tallied a career-high 18 digs.

Pacing the offense for UT was Meghan Sherman who handed out 53 assists and picked up her seventh double-double of the season after picking up 12 digs.

Tying a career high in digs was libero Julie Howlett with 25 as she helped limit the Fighting Knights to a .161 attack rate. Macks had her hand in five blocks as the team finished with eight total.

Mallory Deneen led Lynn in kills with 13 and libero Lacy Redwine turned in a match-best 31 digs.

Tampa plays in another SSC contest Saturday afternoon, hosting Florida Tech (7-8, 1-4) in a 4 p.m. match.