Spartans Fall To Buffs In NCAA Semifinals

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The University of Tampa Spartans season ends as they fall just short against the West Texas A&M Buffs in the NCAA Semifinal. 

Final Score: Tampa 2 (1: 19-25, 2: 25-23, 3: 25-19; 4: 34-36; 5: 14-16), West Texas A&M 3

Records: No. 1 Tampa (32-2, 19-1 SSC), No. 4 West Texas A&M (33-3, 14-2 LSC)

Location: UPMC Events Center | Moon Township, Pa.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: West Texas A&M came into the set with drive and confidence. After a kill by Nathaly Perez from the left side that put the Spartans on the scoreboard, the Buffs responded with back-to-back kills by Torrey Miller to take the lead at 3-1. Tampa tried to find West Texas A&M's weak spots by attacking from all angles. After some miscommunication occurred between the Buffs, the Spartans were able to find the open court with a quick kill from MacKenzie Dufresne in the middle and a kill by Hayley Dillon on the right side. This did not intimidate West Texas A&M as they answered with a four point run that included a challenge called by Head Coach, Chris Catanach, that stayed in the favor of the Buffs and extended their lead to 14-8. The set started to see more back and forth action between the two teams. After the Spartans won a point off a fast kill by Dufresne, the Buffs responded back with a Miller kill and a cross court tip from Blair Moreland, prompting Coach Catanach to call for the first timeout of the match. West Texas started to look more crisp as they continued to put pressure on the Spartans while not giving up any free points. After getting set point off a Tampa net violation, West Texas A&M would win the opening set. | Score: 25-19 West Texas A&M

Second Set: The Spartans started the second set with more intensity as they captured an early 3-2  lead with three straight kills from three different Spartans. West Texas A&M tried to respond back, but Jenna Davis denied them with a block solo. However, the Buffs were not out of the set just yet as the Spartans gave away a few points off of unforced attack errors that knotted the set at 8-8. This did not waiver the Spartans' confidence as they continued to stay aggressive at the net. With Emily Noe-assisted kills by Dufresne and Jenna Vaske, Tampa took the lead at 17-15. West Texas A&M signaled for their first timeout of the night as the Buffs started to look frantic on the court. Capitalizing on a few errors from the Buffs and Zoey Seput-assisted kills by Tess Schrenger and Perez, the Spartans would get set point. After a few loose points, Tampa would capture the second set, tying the match with one set a piece. | Score: 25-23 Tampa

Third Set: Tampa went into the set in a similar style, capturing an early lead at 5-2 with kills by Schrenger and Perez as well as two straight service aces from JJ Ramirez. With the Spartans leading 7-3 and getting tougher in all areas on the court, the Buffs utilized a timeout to regroup. But, it would be ineffective as Tampa would earn a point straight away off a right-handed tip in from Vaske. The Spartans continued to extend their lead to 15-11 with Vaske and Perez firing kills from both sides of the net. However, the Buffs started to pull a little momentum in their direction, causing the Spartans to call for a timeout to prevent their opponent from winning more points. The lead would alternate between both teams until Tampa re-gained control of the set at 20-19. West Texas A&M would signal for a timeout to reorganize, but it was too late as Tampa went on a six point run that included a huge block by Davis and a heavy swing from the left side by Kalli Cors. With set point, Perez hammered in a kill from the right side to give the Spartans the edge in the match. | Score: 25-19 Tampa 

Fourth Set: The Spartans instantly put the Buffs on their heels as four different Spartans attacked from different angles with kills assisted by Zoey Seput. Leading 6-2, Tampa would capitalize on three attack errors and kills by Dufresne and Perez to widen their lead to 12-5. But, West Texas A&M was not going to go down without a fight. With kills from three different Buffs and several attack errors from the Spartans, West Texas A&M would not only close in but take the lead at 25-24. The set started to become a battle between the two elite teams as points were being won from both sides. After ten separate points where Tampa and West Texas A&M were tied, the Buffs clinched the set off a kill by Emma Becker. | Score: 34-36 Tampa

Fifth Set: The Buffs came out swinging, capturing a 4-0 lead with kills from Camy Jones and Taytum Stow. Trailing 2-5, Tampa started to convert at the net with kills by Davis and Schrenger to help tie things up at 6-6. Each side tried to increase the pressure as kills were being made left to right. With a kill by Cors as well as unforced errors made by the Buffs, the Spartans were able to capture the lead for the first time in set. A Schrenger kill would help the Spartans to see some light at the end of the tunnel as her kill gave Tampa set point. However, West Texas A&M strung together a Miller kill that struck nerves and pressure into Tampa. The Buffs end up prevailing and would win the match. | Score 16-14 West Texas A&M 

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The match was led with 31 Ramirez digs

• Noe recorded a double-double with 22 assists and 16 digs

• Perez led the match with 19 kills

• Seput also recorded a double-double with 40 assists and 15 digs