Spartans Prepare for Annual Battle on the Bay
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Beach Volleyball team is competing in the annual Battle on the Bay, hosted by Eckerd College. The Spartans will face off against Missouri State, Eckerd, South Florida, and Palm Beach Atlantic, in St. Petersburg.
About the Spartans: Tampa enters the Battle on the Bay with a 6-8 record after sweeping Saint Leo and Barry. The Spartans have already posted wins this season over Eckerd and South Florida, though they dropped a close match to Palm Beach Atlantic. While they didn't face Missouri State in 2024, Tampa owns a 3-0 all-time record against the Bears, including two sweeps. The Spartans hold winning records against all opponents this weekend, with a 9-3 mark against both Eckerd and Palm Beach Atlantic. Hailey Wolfe and Nevaeh Wolfe were named Sunshine State Conference Duo of the Week for the fourth time this season, contributing to an impressive five-week streak of Spartan duos earning the honor.
About South Florida: USF continues its inaugural spring campaign with two exhibition matches in Tampa. The Bulls previously fell 3-2 to both Tampa and Palm Beach Atlantic during a tightly contested tri-match earlier this month.
About Palm Beach Atlantic: The Sailfish boast an 11-8 record, the highest win total among SSC programs so far in 2025. Last weekend, they faced three nationally ranked teams at Stetson's Hatters Invitational, falling to No. 14 FAU, No. 16 Stetson, and No. 7 Florida State. Their lone win came over unranked Erskine. PBA will see USF and Tampa for the second time this season, having narrowly defeated both in the earlier tri-match.
About Missouri State: The Bears are 10-1 so far on their 2025 season, including two tournaments - The Missouri State Tournament and The Beach Bear Bash, where they swept all opponenets propelling them to a 8-0 start to the season. MO State just recently traveled down North Alabama's Shoals Beach Bash where they won two of their matches before falling to the hosts and their last game, against Austin Peay, was cancelled.
About Eckerd: The Tritons come in at 4-10, though they're riding a two-match win streak. Historically, they've struggled against this weekend's opponents—0-3 against Missouri State, 0-8 vs. PBA, and just 3-9 against Tampa, including a 5-0 loss earlier this season. They've yet to face South Florida.
This Weekend's Schedule:
Friday, March 28
- 8:30 AM – Tampa vs. South Florida
- 2:30 PM – Tampa vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
Saturday, March 29
- 8:30 AM – Tampa vs. Missouri State
- 12:30 PM – Tampa vs. Eckerd