Spartans End Fight Knight in Four

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Entering the match with an 8-0 record, the No. 2 University of Tampa volleyball team defeated Lynn University 3-1 to open Sunshine State Conference play. The Spartans improve to 9-0 on the season with a 1-0 SSC record while the Fighting Knights drop to 6-4 on the season with a 0-1 conference tally.

The Spartans saw four players reach double digits in kills as outside hitters Eva Dupay, Holly Reschke, Jessica Yingling and middle hitter Danielle Selkridge paced the Tampa attack. Selkridge led the squad's defense as she totaled seven blocks on the match while libero Julie Howlett dug out 19 Fighting Knight attacks. Freshman setter Kahley Patrick placed 39 assists for Tampa in their first conference win of the season.

Tampa took the first set by a 25-20 margin as Selkridge tallied a perfect five kills in as many swings, also blocking two LU attacks. Outside hitter Dupay smacked five kills in eight attempts, while the Tampa team owned a .444 attack percentage for the first set.

The second frame ended in similar fashion as the Spartans won 25-18. 6' 2 Selkridge smacked six kills to go along with her .917 attack percentage while picking up three blocks in the second set. Fighting Knight Lizzy Raffa notched six kills for Lynn.

The Fighting Knights came out on top in the third set as they win by a 25-21 margin. LU middle blocker Brittany Brown swatted five kills on the set while Brianna Cox tallied four with two blocks. Sophomore Yingling grounded six kills with middle hitter Meagan Burke adding three kills of her own in the third stanza.

The fourth set was paced by the offensive tandem of Reschke and Yingling as each notched four swats. Senior libero Howlett tallied nine digs on the final stanza as the Spartans won by a 25-18 margin, silencing the Lynn rally.

Tampa finishes out the weekend with another road game against Barry University Saturday Sept. 17. The matchup is slotted for a 4 p.m. start in the Buccaneers' Miami Shores residence.

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