Spartans Send Thorobreds Back to Stables
TAMPA, Fla. - In its first NCAA Division II South Region Tournament match, the No. 2 University of Tampa volleyball team defeated Kentucky State University in three quick sets. The victory pushes the Spartans to 30-1 on the season while the Thorobreds fall to 23-18 to end their season.
The dominating Tampa squad sizzled, leading its opponent with a .469 attack percentage while KSU swung a meager .028. Spartan senior Eva Dupay led the charge with a 7-for-10 night while a trio smacked six kills in Janae Nelson, Holly Reschke, and Sunshine State Conference and Daktronics South Region Player of the Year Danielle Selkridge.
A total of seven players hit above .500 for the Tampa team while setters Kahley Patrick and Sloane Baby assisted 19 and 18 attacks respectively. Dupay and libero Julie Howlett notched six digs each while six Spartans tallied multiple digs.
Dupay and Camille Hanks paced Tampa to a 25-8 win as the two swatted four kills. Howlett dug six KSU attacks in the first set victory.
The Spartans won the second frame 25-10 as Reschke swung a 5-for-6. The team totaled a .577 hitting percent while limiting the Thorobreds to a .048.
Senior Janae Nelson led the squad in the third stanza as the middle hitter smacked six kills. Tampa finished the match with a 25-16 third set victory.
With the first round complete, Tampa heads to the semifinal matchup against Florida Southern College. The Friday night contest is slated for a 7:30 pm start in the Bob Martinez Sports Center. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
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