UT Beach VB Hosts Tampa Invite 2
TAMPA, Fla. – No. 20 Tampa is set to host the Tampa Invite 2 beginning Friday, March 8. UT will welcome Florida State, Houston Christian, Coastal Carolina, and Florida Gulf Coast.
About the Spartans: The University of Tampa beach volleyball team is ranked for the second week in a row. The Spartans dropped one spot to No. 20 in the latest AVCA rankings and are set to host its second tournament of the year. UT sports a 5-5 overall record and is on a two-match win streak after defeating Eckerd and Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday in Fort Myers. Tampa is set to face four teams, two of which the Spartans have already matched up against.
About No. 4 Florida State: Florida State and Tampa faced off just under a week ago in Tallahassee at the Seminole Beach Bash. The Seminoles took the duel over the Spartans and are 8-0 all-time versus Tampa. FSU currently sits as the nation's fourth-best ranked team and currently is 7-0 on the season. The Seminoles have swept every team thus far except for Georgia State and are expected to dominate this weekend. The program fields a roster with a combined eight graduate and senior players along with multiple star juniors and sophomores.
About Coastal Carolina: Coastal Carolina has a 4-4 overall record heading into the Tampa Invite 2. CCU has played a lot of tight matches thus far while three of the Chanticleers' four losses have been 3-2. Currently, Coastal Carolina is on a two-match win streak after duel victories over the University of Tennessee at Chatanooga and College of Charleston - both of which were convincing wins. The Spartans have never defeated the Chanticleers and are 0-2 all-time.
About Florida Gulf Coast: Florida Gulf Coast and Tampa squared off this past Tuesday in Fort Myers where the Spartans came out victorious. Before Tuesday, FGCU was 7-3 all-time versus Tampa and sported a three-match win streak over the Spartans. The Eagles have an impressive 7-3 record so far this season, however are not ranked in the latest poll. The program is full of experienced players, returning 11 players from the previous season supported by three freshmen and one fourth-year transfer.
About Houston Christian: Houston Christian looks to gain some momentum after a tough start to its 2024 campaign. The Huskies are 1-7 overall this season, however have played against the nation's top programs. The Huskies have faced LSU twice thus far, TCU and Washington. The Huskies' lone win came in the season opener after a 4-1 duel win over Central Arkansas. Houston Christian and Tampa have never faced off and will do so for the first time on Saturday to end the tournament.
Friday, March 8th, 2024:
Coastal Carolina vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 9:00 AM
Florida State vs. Houston Christian, 11:00 AM
Tampa vs. Coastal Carolina, 1:00 PM
Houston Christian vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 3:00 PM
Tampa vs. Florida State, 5:00 PM
Saturday, March 9th, 2024:
Florida State vs. Coastal Carolina, 8:00 AM
Tampa vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 10:00 AM
Coastal Carolina vs. Houston Christian, 12:00 PM
Florida State vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 2:00 PM
Tampa vs. Houston Christian, 4:00 PM
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