UT Beach Volleyball to Host Tampa Invite
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa is set to host the Tampa Invite 3 and will welcome Saint Leo, Florida Southern, and Palm Beach Atlantic.
About the Spartans: Tampa has a 13-9 overall record thus far in the 2024 season and is currently on a six-match win streak. The Spartans traveled to West Palm Beach a weekend ago and concluded the weekend with wins over Spring Hill, Tusculum, PBA, and Barry. Three of the Spartan's four matches were sweeps. Payton Brunick and Olivia Margolies were paired in the 1's and went 3-1 overall on the weekend, dropping just one match to Tusculum. Madison Brunick and Keely Hamilton continue to be the Spartan's best pairing as the two players sport an 18-4 overall record and are undefeated in their last 10 matches. UT has two other pairings over .500, Hailey Wolfe and Nevaeh Wolfe are 12-9 overall on the season, and Cassidy Ehrie and Hailey Peterson are 6-4 when paired together.
About Saint Leo: The Lions are 9-3 overall heading into the Tampa Invite and are currently on a five-match win streak. Saint Leo heads into the Tampa Invite having beaten Florida Southern and Eckerd a week ago on its home courts. The Lions defeated the Mocs, 4-1, and swept the Tritons, 5-0. SLU has not played any ranked opponents this season and has never beaten Tampa head-to-head.
About Florida Southern: The Mocs are 20-2 overall, however have played a relatively weak schedule. Florida Southern's two losses this season have come against Saint Leo and Eckerd which were both away from home. FSC has not played any ranked opponents this season and will have two remaining regular season matches following the Tampa Invite before the AVCA Small College Championships kick off.
About PBA: The Sailfish enter this tournament with a 12-13 record and have won three of its last four matches. Similar to the Spartans, the Sailfish have played a highly competitive schedule before looking to cool off in preparation for the AVCA National Championships. PBA holds three losses to No. 12 FIU, two to No. 16 FAU, one to No. 1 USC, and another to No. 5 TCU. The Sailfish will open up versus Tampa on Friday afternoon and finish the day against Florida Southern. On Saturday morning PBA will clash with Saint Leo before ending the tournament against Florida Southern. The Sailfish will see the Mocs twice throughout the Tampa Invite.
This Weekend's Schedule: The Spartans square off against Saint Leo and Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday 3/29, at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM respectively. Then Tampa takes on Saint Leo for the second time at 12:00 PM and Florida Southern at 4:00 PM on Saturday 3/30.