No. 2 Tampa Baffles Barry in 3-0 Sweep

TAMPA, Fla. - Continuing its conference win streak, the No. 2 University of Tampa volleyball team trounced Barry University in straight-sets to pick up its 56th consecutive Sunshine State Conference victory. UT took the match behind set scores of 25-10, 25-11 and 25-15, Thursday evening in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.

The romp puts the Spartans at 10-3 on the season with a flawless 4-0 record in SSC action while the loss pushes the Buccaneers to a 5-4 overall record and a 3-2 tally in conference play.

Tampa turned to a trio of hitters as Berkley Whaley, Jessica Wagner and Allee Stelogeannis each delivered an 11-kill effort to end the Barry win-streak. Senior Wagner hit an errorless 11-for-20 (.550 attack percentage) while adding four blocks at the net while fellow senior Whaley turned a double-double with her 11 kills and 13 digs. Junior Stelogeannis posted eight digs to combine with 11 kills in the Spartans' rounded offensive and defensive outing.

Setter Gina Clarke spun her own double-double effort, notching 27 assists with 10 digs while pacing the Tampa offense to a .327 team hitting clip.

Kaitlin Drake led Barry offensively, as the outside hitter posted nine kills while adding five digs. Buccaneer libero Brittany Jaco led all athletes with 15 digs.

The first set opened with 10-4 advantage for UT as Barry was having trouble mounting an offense. Back-to-back kills from Marissa Lisenbee opened up the contest before the Bucs regrouped and brought the opening stanza to a 22-20 score. Tampa would win the set behind a pair of kills from Stelogeannis as the Spartans took the frame 25-20.

Whaley and Wagner dominated the second set as the duo combined for a blistering .700 attack percentage with seven kills. Outside hitter Whaley dazzled with a 3-for-3 frame as UT easily took the set 25-11.

Stelogeannis put the nail in the coffin in the third and final set, delivering a six-kill salvo to oust the visiting Bucs 25-15 to complete the sweep.

Tampa will host No. 17 Palm Beach Atlantic University for a Saturday matinee scheduled for a 4 p.m. start time. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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