Top-Ranked Spartans Flex Muscle in First Day of Otter Classic
SEASIDE, Calif. - The top-ranked University of Tampa volleyball team won the first of two matches at the Cal State-Monterey Bay Otter Classic, defeating Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) 3-0 and then Notre Dame de Namur (Calif.) by a score of 3-1. The Spartans improve to 5-1 on the season following the victories.
Against SVSU, UT won by scores of 30-24, 30-26, 30-18. In the NDDN match, the Spartans rallied from a difficult game two to win by scores of 30-23, 25-30, 30-17, 30-17.
In the first match, Alisha Green and Erin Clark led the way with 15 and 11 kills respectively. Both were also among five Spartans to record .400-plus hitting percentages. Gabriela Saade led the Spartans with 48 assists, while Katelen Dixon had four service aces. Margeaux Sinibaldi held team honors with 17 digs while Green had two of UT's five blocks.
In the second match, the Spartans looked dominant in the first game before suffering a minor meltdown in the second game. The strong serving of Camila Saade, who had three aces, and the offense of Green and Dixon helped the Spartans avoid defeat. Green led the Spartans with 21 kills as Dixon chipped in 19. Annalea Warren and Clark each recorded 12 kills.
Sinibaldi led UT with 17 digs while Dixon had 12 to record her first double-double of the season. Gabriela Saade turned in 63 assists and 10 digs.
The Spartans close out the Otter Classic tomorrow with a pair of matches, beginning with a showdown with #20 Seattle Pacific at 2 p.m. UT then plays CSU-Monterey Bay at 10 p.m. in the finale.
Team Stats
Saginaw Valley
Game Statistics | Tampa | Saginaw Valley |
---|---|---|
Hitting % | .356 | .220 |
Blocks | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Digs | 48 | 42 |
Aces | 9 | 5 |
Notre Dame de Namur
Game Statistics | Notre Dame de Namur | Tampa |
---|---|---|
Hitting % | .187 | .399 |
Blocks | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Digs | 45 | 60 |
Aces | 6 | 8 |