Beach Volleyball Set to Host Tampa Tournament
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa beach volleyball program is set to return to action this weekend as they will be hosting the Tampa Tournament at the UT Beach Volleyball Complex.
The Matchups: Tampa will face four opponents throughout the weekend as Mercer University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Eckerd College, and Jacksonville University will be in the tournament.
On Friday the Spartans have a pair of games as they will face the Mercer Bears in the first match at 10:00 a.m. Following a break, UT will be back in action at 4:00 p.m. as they will face the FGCU Eagles.
On Saturday, Tampa will again face two opponents, as they will begin the day at 10:00 a.m. facing off against the Eckerd College Tritons. The Spartans will then close the day out at 2:00 p.m., squaring off against the Jacksonville University Dolphins.
About the Spartans: This will mark the second weekend back to play for the Spartans, as they played in the Florida State Seminole Beach Bash, where they went up against four nationally ranked teams, three of them ranked in the top-10. During the shortened 2020 season, UT would finish 9-5, closing the year out with a pair of victories over North Carolina-Wilmington and Tusculum.
About the Bears: Mercer opened up their 2021 season at the UNF Invitational where they split their first four games of the season. During the 2020 season, MU finished 2-11 before the season was canceled.
About the Eagles: These will be the Eagles first matches of the year, as they will open the season on Friday against Jacksonville. Last year the Eagles were a perfect 4-0 before the season was called.
About the Tritons: Eckerd currently sits at 1-1 after defeating Warner and dropping a 3-2 match to Saint Leo. In 2020 the Tritons were 5-1, winning their final four matches of the season.
About the Dolphins: JU enters the weekend with a 2-0 record as they would take a pair of matches from Erskine. During the 2020 season, the Dolphins would finish with a record of 0-4.
Tournament Schedule
FRIDAY, MARCH 5
Eckerd vs. Jacksonville 8:00 a.m.
Tampa vs. Mercer 10:00 a.m.
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Jacksonville 12:00 p.m.
Eckerd vs. Mercer 2:00 p.m.
Tampa vs. Florida Gulf Coast 4:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 6
Mercer vs. Jacksonville 8:00 a.m.
Tampa vs. Eckerd 10:00 a.m.
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Mercer 12:00 p.m.
Tampa vs. Jacksonville 2:00 p.m.
Eckerd vs. Florida Gulf Coast 4:00 p.m.