Wagner Ravages Florida Tech in 3-1 Win

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Senior Jessica Wagner unloaded an 18-kill onslaught to lead the No. 2 University of Tampa volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Florida Tech on the road. UT claimed the contest behind set scores of 25-19, 20-25, 25-20, and 26-24 in the Clemente Center, Saturday.

The Spartans jump to 13-3 on the season with a pristine 6-0 conference mark to extend its Sunshine State Conference win streak to 58 consecutive victories dating back to Oct. 2011. The hosting Panthers draw even at 7-7 on the season and 2-5 in SSC matchups.

Wagner used a nine-kill fourth set (.750 attack percentage) to boost her dominant outing, finishing with 18 kills at a career-best(min 10 attempts) .556 attack clip across the match. The reigning SSC Offensive Player of the Week continues to lead the conference in attack percentage, carrying a .435 season clip as the next-closest athlete, Kayshia Brady (Florida Southern) sits at .339 across the season.

Senior Berkley Whaley spun her fourth consecutive double-double, grounding 17 kills while providing 11 digs on defense. The outside hitter has nine total double-doubles for the Spartans this season. Setter Elise Boutet totaled 25 assists, five digs, four service aces and three kills for her most-rounded performance of her young career.

Libero Logan Holanchock once again kept the defensive tempo, leading with 20 digs while adding a service ace for UT.

The two squads battled throughout the match, trading salvos to gain advantage. Freshman middle blocker Olivia Hersey led the Panthers with nine kills at an impressive .474 hitting clip. The FIT trio of Jenna Schaffer, Alea Hamm and Kim Juriga each posted double digit kills as the squad was unable to overcome the Tampa attack.

Whaley grounded five kills in the premier stanza, hitting at a torrid .400 to start the contest against FIT. The senior added a team-leading four digs in the first set as Tampa rolled to a 25-19 win.

Florida Tech bounced back in the second frame as team combined for a .359 attack percentage as right side Juriga terminated an errorless five kills while outside hitter Jenna Schaffer posted five kills to her credit. Whaley and Wagner each notched four kills but the Spartans ultimately fell 25-20 to the hosting Panthers.

The Spartans returned to form in the third set, dominating the Panthers in the early points. Whaley and Megan Heffron added four kills apiece as the team combined for a .353 attack percentage and regain control of the SSC bout. UT won the set by a 25-20 score.

Wagner hit a blistering .750 attack clip in the fourth set, terminating nine kills to push her match total to 18 kills to tie her career-high. Libero Holanchock was dominant in the back row, picking up nine digs on the set. UT finished off the Panthers with a close 26-24 fourth set victory to extend its SSC win-streak to 58 conference wins.

The Spartans will travel to Carrollton, Ga. for the South Region Crossover tournament hosted by the University of West Georgia. Live stats links will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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