Spartans Streak Snapped in Saturday Split

TAMPA, Fla. - Concluding with a dramatic five-set thriller, the No. 1 University of Tampa volleyball team split its final day of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic on Saturday.

The Spartans finish the tournament with a 3-1 overall record after taking a three-set sweep of No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit and dropping its top-5 matchup against No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth in five-set fashion (2-3).

The Cardinals of WJU return home with a 2-2 record while the Bulldogs of UMD mirror with a 3-1 tally to start the season.

Minnesota-Duluth snapped a 33 consecutive match win-streak that Tampa had carried over from the previous season, ending the program's record run.

Senior Berkley Whaley ended the day with 33 total kills to lead the Spartan offense while Marissa Lisenbee terminated 26 balls. Setter Gina Clarke posted 97 assists including a career-best 55 in the match against UMD. The junior added 14 digs, three service aces and a pair of kills between the two matches.

Freshman Logan Holanchock continued to dazzle on defense, earning 49 digs while adding four service aces as the Spartan libero.

Tampa opened the day with a three set victory over the No. 9-ranked Cardinals, winning with set scores of 25-18, 25-16 and 25-17.

Outside hitter Whaley grounded 13 kills at a .423 attack percentage, recording a perfect 10-for-16 in the opening two sets. The tandem of Jessica Wagner and Katarina Milojevic combined for 10 total blocks while Lisenbee was a force on both sides of the net, blocking five attacks while blasting nine kills for UT.

Holanchock managed the back-row with a 22-dig performance. Junior Allee Stelogeannis added a nine-kill effort to roll the Spartans to their third win of the season.

Middle hitter Haley Kindall led Wheeling Jesuit, as the senior swatted 11 kills for the 2014 Elite 8 contender. Libero Jessica Thobe and outside hitter Kayce Krucki kept the defensive tempo with 19 and 18 digs, respectively.

Tampa lost a hard-fought battle with No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth as the Bulldogs earned a 2-0 advantage heading into the third frame after a 25-19 and 30-28 set of wins. The Spartans rebounded to take the next two stanzas and force a decisive fifth set after winning by 25-23 and 26-24 set scores.

Minnesota-Duluth rode a 30-kill onslaught from the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Mariah Scharf, as the outside hitter dominated the contest leading to a 15-9 score in the deciding fifth set.

Whaley provided a barrage of 20 kills to lead UT while Lisenbee posted 17-kill salvo. Middle hitter Milojevic added nine kills at a .615 clip to go along with five blocks while Holanchock scrapped 27 digs in the back-and-forth bout.

The trio of Lisenbee, Whaley and Holanchok each earned All-Tournament honors for their performances over the weekend classic.

2015 Courtyard by Marriott Classic All-Tournament Team
OH - Abby Phelps - Western Washington
OH - Mariah Scharf - Minnesota-Duluth
OH - Berkley Whaley - Tampa
RS - Marissa Lisenbee - Tampa
S - Ashley Hinsch - Minnesota-Duluth
MB - Sydnie Mauch - Minnesota-Duluth
MB - Haley Kindall - Wheeling Jesuit
L - Logan Holanchock - Tampa

Most Outstanding Player - Mariah Scharf - Minnesota-Duluth

Tampa will hit the road to compete in the Colorado Premier Tournament in Denver, Colo. The annual event features some of the strongest programs in the nation and will feature a bevy of nationally ranked foes. The Spartans kick off the tournament with a 12:00 p.m. contest against UC-San Diego on Friday, Sept. 11. Live stat links will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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