Tampa Coasts Past Tiffin in Season Opener

TAMPA, Fla. - Picking up where they left off last season, the No. 4 ranked University of Tampa volleyball team won their first match of the season in 3-0 fashion against Tiffin University. The Spartans improve to 1-0 on the season while the Dragons start their 2011 campaign 0-1.

UT won the first set 25-12 as junior middle hitter Danielle Selkridge paced the Spartan offense with four kills in nine swings. The 6'2 Virgin Islands native also picked up a pair of solo blocks while outside hitter Eva Dupay swung at a .500 clip for the first stanza.

The second frame was won by a dominating 25-6 tally as Selkridge smacked an additional four kills in five swings. Sophomore Holly Reschke picked up four kills on the set while Jessica Yingling hit a perfect 3-for-3.

The final set was paced by offensive tandem Brianne Yeates and Janae Nelson as they notched four and three kills respectively. Defensive specialist Kendall Putnam dug out seven on the set to round out the match.

Selkridge ended with eight kills and a .500 attack percentage, followed closely by Reschke with seven smacks on the match. Yingling and libero Julie Howlett picked up eight digs each, with setter Kahley Patrick tallied 31 assists.

The Spartans return Friday night with the Tampa Classic in full swing. UT will face the No. 15 ranked Lewis Flyers in the final match of the day, slated for an 8 p.m. start time. Live stats as well as a live webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.

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