Tampa Selected as No. 1 Seed, Hope to Repeat as Champions at AVCA Small College Championships
TAVARES, Fla. – Spartans searching for back-to-back AVCA National Titles.
About the Spartans: The Spartans left late Thursday morning for Tavares, Florida in search of the second leg of back-to-back AVCA National Titles, and fourth in just the programs short seventh year. Tampa comes into the weekend on an 12-match win streak with a 19-9 overall record, having been nearly flawless following their early season matches against top ranked opponents and earning them the No. 1 overall seed. Leading the Spartans in the 1's, as they have been all season, are Payton Brunick and Olivia Margolies, who claim a 16-12 overall record and provide a scary combo of large blocking and elite defense. Payton's twin sister, Madison Brunick, will play alongside Keely Hamilton in the 2's. The pairing started the season rotating between the 4's and 5's but, simply put, can't stop winning, and have climbed the ladder all the way to the 2's. The pairing has an astounding 23-5 on the year, with four of their five losses coming to ranked opponents. Sophomores Hailey Wolfe and Nevaeh Wolfe represent the Spartans in the 3's with an overall 18-9 record. The split pairing has outlasted and outsmarted some of the top pairings in the country and hope to do the same this weekend. Back in form for the Spartan's 4's are Cassidy Ehrie and Angel Williams. The pairing spent a majority of the season apart, but ride an 8-0 record heading into their final tournament of the season and look to continue their unbeaten run. The Spartan's 5's has been a revolving door for most of the season. Most likely to make appearances throughout the weekend, in any combination of pairings, are Anna Bayes, Hailey Peterson, and Meghan Schreck.
About Carson-Newman: The Eagles enter the AVCA National Championship with an 18-12 record, but are hoping to avoid their fifth straight loss in their opening pool play match. The Eagles don't claim any ranked wins and have played a small number of schools, most of their late season matches coming against early season opponents. Notably, Carson-Newman fell in three straight matches to Tusculum at the end of the year, a squad who the Spartans took down 4-1 in West Palm Beach. The Eagles look to claim their first ever victory against the Spartans in their opening match this weekend.
About McKendree: The Bearcats enter the weekend as the 16th seed, claiming a disappointing 3-11 overall record. Their trio of wins came against Park University (MO), Ottawa University, and Southwest Baptist University. The Bearcats share no common opponents with the Spartans and the two squads will face off for the first time in history this weekend.
About Spring Hill: The Badgers enter the weekend having lost four of their six, but maintain overall record of 14-14. Spring Hill has not faced any ranked opponents, but holds losses from New Orleans, Stephen F. Austin, Tusculum, and PBA, all of whom Tampa took down earlier in the year. Spring Hill starts their weekend in Tavares with a clash against McKendree on Friday morning and once again look to capture their first win over Tampa in program history.
This Weekend's Schedule: The Spartans square off against the Eagles and the Bearcats on Friday 4/12, at 9:05 AM and 1:25 PM respectively. Then Tampa takes on Spring Hill at 11:15 AM to end pool play on Saturday 4/13.