Spartans Conclude South Region Crossover Undefeated

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 

Final Score: No. 4 Tampa 3 (1: 25-20, 3: 25-12, 4: 25-19), Union 1 (2: 25-19)

Records: No. 4 Tampa (17-2, 7-2 SSC) , Union (15-8,  8-1 Conf)

Location: Finley Center | Hoover, Ala.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: The Spartans struggled early in the set due to Union repeated retaliation. Both teams were merely leveled until the Spartans got some breathing room with a kill by Nataly Perez (16-12). To close the half, Halyley Dillon and Kallie Cors closed the set on a 6-0 kill run. Score: 25-18 (Tampa)

Second Set: Unlike the first set, the Spartans did not continue the same performance in the second half. At first they had an early lead, before Union quickly qualized at 5 and took the lead at 8-7. Union would continue to play their game and control the pace on the court and would not allow the Spartans to regain a lead for the rest of the set. Score: 25-19 (Union)

Third Set: Having lost a surprising second set, the Spartans quickly got back on track and dominated with a 13-4 run. Tess Schrenger stood out and was the clear aggressor for the Spartans. Schrenger scored five of her 18 kills in this set while the Spartans collectively as a team held Union to only four kills. Score: 25-12 (Tampa)

Fourth Set: With this set potentially being a defeating set for Union, the Spartans sought to close out the match. However, Union University had other things in mind. Even though they were still trailing to the Spartans, they were in the game until an unforced error by Natalie Supine allowed the Spartans a five-point lead (12-7). The set nearly went another direction as Union trailed 21-19. But the Spartans, only four points away, closed the game out with a kill by Schrenger.   Score: 25-19 (Tampa)

INSIDE THE STATS: 

Spartans led in kills: 57-42

Schrenger led the team in kills: (18)

Mackenzie Dufresne led the team kill percentage: (.609%)

Spartans are on a three-game winning streak