Spartans Take Two; Advance to Gold Bracket Action

DENVER - The top-ranked University of Tampa volleyball team swept the opening round of the Colorado Premier Challenge by taking a 3-1 win over UC-San Diego before outdueling No. 7 Central Missouri, 3-2 on Friday.

The Spartans advance to the Gold bracket after defeating both opponents in their pool, improving to 5-1 on the season. The UCSD Tritons fall to 3-2 after its loss while Tampa dealt the Jennies their first loss of the season as UCM concludes the day 6-1.

Senior Berkley Whaley blasted 38 kill between the two victories, adding 27 digs and a service ace. The outside hitter spun two double-doubles, finishing each contest with double-digits in kills and digs.

Freshman Logan Holanchock stifled both offenses with a whopping 57 digs in her two contests. The libero averaged 6.33 per set, including 36 in the five-set contest against Central Missouri. The 36-dig outing ties the program record for digs in a five-set match, tying a 29-year-old record set by Adrianna Alfageme against the University of South Florida on October 29, 1986.

Middle blocker Jessica Wagner ended the day with 28 kills, torching opponents with a .543 attack percentage in 46 swings. Opposite hitter Marissa Lisenbee posted 25 kills as the Spartans advance to the next round of the tournament undefeated.

Tampa met a formidable foe in the opening contest of the Colorado Premier Challenge, facing the Tritons of UC-San Diego. Despite dropping the opening stanza, the Spartans built momentum in the second set to take the contest by a 3-1 final score.

UT took the four-frame contest behind set scores of 17-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-22.

Wagner paced the offense, posting a personal-best 16 kills at another career-mark .583 attack percentage while Lisenbee led all players with 17 kills. Senior Whaley notched her third double-double of the season, terminating 15 kills while flashing her defensive prowess with 13 digs.

Freshman Holanchock posted 21 digs while setter Gina Clarke spun 44 assists along with a seven-dig defensive showing as the Spartans rolled to a 3-1 win over UCSD.

The Tritons were led by a 16-kill effort from outside hitter Meagan Wright. UCSD setter Heidi Sierks twirled a double-double with 48 assists and 15 digs while adding a block and a service ace to her stat-line.

Tampa met top-10 foe Central Missouri for the second contest of the day, defeating the No. 7 Jennies by a 3-2 final score. The Spartans took the match by set scores of 21-25, 25-12, 25-13, 23-25 and 15-10.

Whaley unloaded a 23-kill attack to tempo the UT offense, swinging at a .429 clip. The reigning Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week turned her second double-double of the day with 14 digs. Senior Wagner added 12 kills at an even .500 attack percentage while junior Allee Stelogeannis notched an errorless eight kills and nine digs.

Libero Holanchock dazzled with a back row effort that featured 36 digs to tie the all-time record in UT volleyball history. The St. Augustine, Fla. native limited the Jennies to a .155 team attack percentage to take the five-set thriller.

Tampa returns to the court Saturday, battling rival Concordia-St. Paul in the tournament quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. EST. The Spartans last met the No. 4 Golden Bears in last season's Colorado Premier Challenge, as Tampa bested the volleyball powerhouse in straight-sets. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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