No. 1 Spartans Top Panthers in Four Sets
TAMPA, Fla.-The No. 1 University of Tampa volleyball team defeated Florida Tech in four-set fashion during Saturday's matinee in the Bob Martinez Athletic Center.
The Spartans improve to 13-1, 6-0 in the Sunshine State Conference while the Panthers drop to 5-9, 0-6 in the SSC. The win adds one more to the Spartans' 42nd-straight SSC victory, dating back to 2011.
Sophomore outside hitter Allee Stelogeannis nearly posted a double-double, slugging a team-high 19 kills and nine digs. Senior middle blocker Meagan Burke posted seven kills, hitting a team-best .455 attacking percentage and secured the squad's lone solo block. Junior right side hitter Marissa Lisenbee notched nine kills for the evening.
Senior setter Kahley Patrick assisted 30 attacks throughout the matchup. Starting libero, freshman Molly McAlvany, tallied 12 digs and later recorded two kills as an outside hitter.
Florida Tech's senior outside hitter Milli Tapuskovic posted 13 kills to lead the Panthers' offense. Junior setter Ashtin Truesdale spun a double-double for the squad with 17 sets and 13 digs.
The Spartans claimed the opening set 25-15 holding the Panthers to -.107 hitting percentage. The Burke-Whaley duo posted a combined .650 clip. Stelogeannis tallied five kills and six digs throughout the set.
The momentum continued into the second stanza as Lisenbee downed four kills. Patrick assisted seven to close out the second set 25-14.
Florida Tech showed its fight, claiming the fourth set 25-20. The Panthers' Tapuskovic tallied seven kills, attacking at a .700 clip. Stelogeannis slugged eight kills in the frame despite the loss.
Stelogeannis blasted four kills to seal the Spartans' four-set victory 25-19, maintaining their perfect conference record.
Tampa hits the road next weekend beginning Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to take on Nova Southeastern at 7 p.m. and Barry on Saturday at 4 p.m. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.tv.
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