Wagner Wallops No. 17 Mocs in 3-0 Sweep

TAMPA, Fla. – Using the sure-fire swing of senior Jessica Wagner, the No. 8 University of Tampa volleyball team ravaged the visiting No. 17 Florida Southern College Mocs in straight-sets on Saturday afternoon in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.

The Spartans improve to 24-5 overall with a 13-1 Sunshine State Conference tally while the Mocs fall to 20-8 and 8-7 in SSC action.

Wagner delivered an errorless 13-kill onslaught at a scorching .765 attack percentage to lead UT to a 3-0 win over its rival.

Seniors Marissa Lisenbee and Berkley Whaley joined in on the action, terminating 10 and nine kills, respectively, while the latter narrowly missed another double-double with a match-high 14 digs.  Middle blocker Demery Zachery blasted seven kills at an even .500 attack percentage as the Spartans charmed the Mocs for their 13^th conference win.

Libero Logan Holanchock provided a 13-dig compliment to senior Whaley while Gina Clarke added double-digits digs with 10.  The setter finished the match with 38 assists for UT.

Tampa totaled five team blocks as Allee Stelogeannis stopped two FSC swings alone.  The defense was able to limit the No. 17 ranked Mocs to a meager .058 attack percentage as a team.

UT stormed to a 25-18 opening set thanks to a strong start from Wagner. The Cape Coral, Fla. native hit 4-for-6 to begin play while Whaley was stoic in the back row, picking up eight digs in the premier frame alone.

Wagner caught fire in the second set, dominating the Mocs with a 7-for-8 second stanza.  Junior Zachery added a trio of kills while Holanchock picked up six digs in the 25-19 second set win.

The Spartans rallied behind the serve of sophomore Kelsey Watts to begin the third set, as Tampa jumped out to a 9-2 lead.  Florida Southern was unable to recover as Zachery put the nail in the coffin with four kills in the final set of play.  UT took the frame by a 25-13 score to complete the sweep.

Head coach Chris Catanach's squad will close out the regular season at home, hosting Lynn University and Nova Southeastern in the final week of play.  The Spartans will meet Lynn on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. before their Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.  Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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