Spartans Take Flight! Eagles Fall to No. 3 Tampa

Tampa, Fla. – The No. 3 Spartans Stay Perfect On The Year With Victory Over Embry-Riddle

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 25-15, 2: 25-16, 3: 25-20), Embry-Riddle 0

Records: No. 3 Tampa (17-0, 11-0 SSC), Embry-Riddle (12-6, 6-4 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Sports Center | Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: The Spartans and Eagles opened up play with close action before an early 7-0 run that included kills from Kalli Cors, Mackenzie Dufresne, and Hayley Dillon. In an attempt to stop the run, Eagles' coach, Joslynn Gallop, called her teams first timeout down 8-5. The Eagles were able to tie the set at 12 all which caused Coach Catanach to call his first timeout of the day. Coming out of the break, the Spartans scored 5 straight points that included an ace from Cors, forcing the Eagles to respond with their second timeout of the match, down 17-12. After hitting .325 as a team, Tampa closed out the set, scoring 8 of the last 11 points. | Score: 25-15 Tampa

Second Set: After a perfect kill from Jenna Davis early, the Spartans found themselves with a 6-2 lead to start the second set of the day. Embry-Riddle decided to take their first timeout, after back-to-back blocks from Davis added to Tampa's lead, now 11-5. Later in the set, Cors had consecutive flawless kills and Coach Gallop called another timeout, with Tampa nearing the end of the second set, leading 20-14. Tampa closed out the second set as strong as the first, capturing 6 of the last 7 points as Davis tallied another kill, her fifth of the set. | Score: 25-16 Tampa

Third Set: Looking to close out the day with an addition to their perfect record, Tampa's Dufresne added to their lead with a kill that sent Embry-Riddle into an early timeout, as they fell down 7-4. The Spartans maintained a steady 2 to 3 point lead for the majority of the set, with the largest gap being 5 points between the two teams. However, the Eagles, down 22-18, were left with no option other than to call a timeout after an ace from JJ Ramirez put the Spartans just inches from remaining undefeated on the season. Despite scoring immediately after the timeout, the Eagles couldn't secure the win; the Spartans clinched both the set and the match due to an attack error from the Eagles.  | Score: 25-20 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Tampa outkilled Embry-Riddle 44 to 29
• Jenna Davis recorded a .778 hitting percentage
• The Spartans held the Eagles to a .099 team hitting percentage