No. 2 Spartans Down Rival Mocs To Remain Perfect

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 2 University of Tampa (11-0, 3-0 SSC) volleyball team fought off a late-match surge by Florida Southern College (7-5, 2-2 SSC) to take a 3-1 victory over its longtime Sunshine State Conference rival.

Through the first two sets, Tampa looked like a legit national power that has rattled off 11 straight victories, as it took the frames by respective scores of 25-16 and 25-14. Junior Danielle Selkridge hit 6-for-7 in set one as freshman Meagan Burke had a team-high four kills in the second set.

Though outhitting the Mocs .344 to .231 in the third set, Tampa was edged by a 25-22 mark as FSC notched three service aces. UT was also hindered by three service errors in the set.

The Spartans would pull through in what started as a tight fourth set. Jessica Yingling sparked UT defensively as she led the team with seven digs in a 25-22 fourth-set victory. The outside hitter also turned in three kills as Eva Dupay led Tampa with four kills in the fourth.

In her first career start, Burke led the Spartans with 14 kills as the freshman middle hitter finished with a .545 attack percentage in 22 swings. Burke also had a team-leading four blocks in the match.

Selkridge, the national leader with a .524 hitting percentage heading into the match, was 13-for-17 for a .706 clip on the evening. The junior middle hitter also turned in three blocks.

Yingling and Julie Howlett each had 18 digs to pace the Tampa defense as the Spartans used a pair of setters in Sloane Baby (22 assists) and Kahley Patrick (20 assists).

Tampa hit .309 on the evening while holding its opponent to .182 with 19 errors. The Spartans also held an advantage in digs (64-57) and blocks (9.0-3.0).

Head coach Chris Catanach and his Spartans will look to remain unblemished as it hosts a pair of SSC matches this weekend, with Saint Leo on Friday and Eckerd on Saturday. UT will meet the Lions at 7 p.m., on Friday, with live stats and a webcast through www.tampaspartans.com.

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