#5 Tampa Survives Shark Attack

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The No. 5 University of Tampa (15-3, 7-1 SSC) volleyball team won its second consecutive five-set thriller with a 3-2 win over Nova Southeastern University (5-11, 2-6 SSC). The Sunshine State Conference match carried scores of 25-16, 24-26, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13.

Following a slow start in the first set, the Spartans finished with a fury as it trailed by as many as five points. The Spartans won the final 11 points as it erased a 16-14 Nova advantage. Sam Macks paced UT with six kills in the opening frame.

Nova claimed a two-point victory in the second set as it outpaced UT by an 11-3 margin to even the sets. Melissa Vanderhall led Tampa with four kills and five digs in the second. The Sharks then put UT in a 2-1 hole with a 25-19 victory in set three.

Tampa forced its second five-set match in as many days as it led the entire fourth set. With a .324 hitting clip, the Spartans hit over .300 for the first time since notching a .357 mark in the first.

Following a Nova error in the fifth set to even the score at 6-6, the Sharks scored three straight to take a 9-6 lead. Tampa then went on a 4-2 run out of a timeout, forcing NSU to call for a break with an 11-10 advantage. UT battled to a 13-13 tie and took its first lead with a block by Meghan Sherman and Danielle Selkridge, prompting a NSU timeout with UT ahead 14-13. Following a back-and-forth rally on the ensuing play, Selkridge buried a quick set in the middle of the Sharks defense to give UT the game-winner.

Vanderhall led the UT attack with 14 kills as Selkridge chipped in 11 while hitting at a .500 clip. True freshman Holly Reschke came off the bench to contribute nine kills and a pair of digs while aiding the Spartan effort in the fourth set. Sherman finished with 53 of Tampa's 60 assists.

Julie Howlett led Tampa with 28 digs as Sherman and Vanderhall each had 17. Sam Macks registered a team-high five blocks with Sherman and Vanderhall each totaling four total blocks. Hitting at .249, the Spartans held the Sharks to a .190 attack percentage.

Tampa will now face a trio of non-conference opponents at the South Region Crossover in Lakeland. The Spartans begin the crossover on Friday versus North Alabama at 5 p.m. UT will then meet up with West Florida and West Alabama on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively. Florida Southern College will serve as the host of the crossover. Live stats will be available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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