Reigning Champs Rise to 3-0 Sweep of Saint Leo

SAINT LEO, Fla. - Tying her career-high in kills, senior Marissa Lisenbee led the No. 5 University of Tampa volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep of Saint Leo University, Tuesday night to open Sunshine State Conference play.

The Spartans improve to 6-3 on the season with a 1-0 record in SSC action while the Lions fall to 5-3 with a 0-1 tally in conference play. With the conference victory, UT has claimed its 53rd consecutive SSC win, an active program record dating back to October 2011.

Lisenbee matched her career-mark in kills, unleashing a 19-kill onslaught at a .349 attack percentage to roll through the Saint Leo defense. The Seminole, Fla. native turned a double-double outing, notching 12 digs while blocking two attacks at the net.

Senior Berkley Whaley posted a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs as fellow outside hitter Megan Heffron added 11 digs and eight kills for UT

Setter Gina Clarke tuned the offense to a .308-team attack percentage while spreading 49 assists in a three set match, adding five digs and two blocks.

The UT middle tandem of Katarina Milojevic and Jessica Wagner snuffed three and four attacks, respectively, as the latter terminated nine kills in addition to her defense at the net.

Tampa jumped to a 25-20 opening set win behind the swift-swing of Lisenbee. The Spartans broke away to a 18-9 lead before Saint Leo rallied with three kills from outside hitter Britt Sederholm. The sophomore finished the set with five kills but was unable to match the torrid offense of UT. Middle blocker Wagner hit 4-for-5 in the premier stanza to provide a one-two punch with Lisenbee as Clarke spun a 16-assist set.

Lisenbee turned a five-kill salvo in the second act, hitting at a .500 clip on the set. Whaley added her own five kills while Clarke added another 16-assist frame to tempo the Spartan offense. The back-and-forth set saw six tied scores with only two lead changes as Tampa broke away late in the frame to gain a 2-0 advantage on the game.

The Spartans claimed the final set of the match by a 25-22 score as Lisenbee continued her rampage as the senior grounded another seven kills. Junior Clarke finished with 17 assists to roll the Spartan hitter to a 3-0 sweep.

The Lions were led by a nine-kill effort from Sederholm, combined with eight from right side Anna Siruckova. Junior Hope Lemon led Saint Leo with 10 kills as the team was unable to contain the Tampa attack.

Tampa will continue SSC action, hosting Eckerd College on Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.

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