Stelogeannis Leads Tampa to Doubleheader Sweep

INDIANAPOLIS – Behind the dominating performance of senior Allee Stelogeannis, the No. 16 University of Tampa volleyball team swept its first day slate of opponents at the UIndy Volleyball Invitational on Friday.

The outside hitter blasted 33 kills across six sets of play, hitting at a stifling .482 attack percentage in both matches.  The Ocala, Fla. native added 16 digs and five aces while blocking three.

The Spartans defeated the University of Indianapolis 3-0 to begin the day before sweeping Lock Haven University in similar 3-0 fashion.

The victories push the UT record to 4-2 on the season while the Greyhounds of UIndy fall to 1-4 and the LHU Hawks conclude the day with a 0-6 tally.

Using a dynamic defense, the Tampa volleyball team swept host University of Indianapolis by set scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-11 on Friday morning to begin the UIndy Volleyball Invitational at the Ruth Lilly Center.

Senior Stelogeannis hit at a strong .429 attack percentage with a match-leading 12 kills. Fellow outside hitter Katie McKiel added a 10-kill effort while middle blocker Alexandra Misca swatted five at an even .500 clip.

Tampa used a strong defensive showing to control the match, posting 12 total blocks and 43 digs to stymie the UIndy offense.  Leading the back row was libero Logan Holanchock, as the sophomore picked up 15 digs for the Spartans. Freshman Sammy Mueller added nine digs in her collegiate debut while Stelogeannis chipped in seven.  Misca led the defense at the net, notching four total blocks.  Outside hitters Leigh Buttner and Gen Beaumier added three blocks a piece while middle hitter Taylor Fosler mirrored with her own three-block effort. The defensive dominance held the Indianapolis team to a .000 team attack percentage across the three sets of play.

The Spartans took the opening set against the Greyhounds thanks to a seven-point effort from senior Stelogeannis. The outside hitter swatted five kills in the first stanza, adding a solo block and an ace in the 25-23 victory.  Sophomore Holanchock picked up eight digs in the premier frame as Tampa took a 1-0 lead on the match.

Tampa built momentum into the second frame, taking the set 25-16. Stelogeannis continued to terrorize the Greyhounds with four kills and a service ace while middle blocker Misca added three kills.

UT ran away in the third set, trouncing the hosting Greyhounds by a 25-11 score to complete the sweep.

Moving to the Athletic Recreation Center on the campus of UIndy, Tampa continued its winning ways with a 25-19, 25-14 and 25-23 win over Lock Haven University.

Stelogeannis tallied a 21-kill outing in the second game of the day, hitting .514 in the three set sweep of Lock Haven. The outside hitter added nine digs and three service aces to lead UT to its second win of the day.  Misca added a three-block match to combine with three kills and two service aces as fellow middle Courtney Randazzo added four kills at a .444 clip. Freshman McKiel swatted seven kills at .333 as UT's offense trumped Lock Haven.

The Spartan defense was balanced from the back row as Holanchock and setter Mueller posted eight digs, apiece. Freshman Nicole Dominguez added six digs as the Hawks had trouble finding gaps on the Tampa side of the court.

UT claimed the first set against Lock Haven by a 25-19 final score. Stelogeannis carved up the Hawks defense with a 7-kill opening set, hitting a blistering .667 while adding five digs and a service ace.

Hot-handed Stelogeannis carried her momentum into the second set, adding another five kills and hitting a torrid .625 through two stanzas. Junior Molly McAlvany hit an errorless 4-for-5 in the second frame to provide a one-two punch alongside Stelogeannis. Tampa stormed to a 25-14 set to earn a 2-0 advantage on the game.

Tampa began the third stanza looking at a 9-1 deficit before rebounding to claim the set by a 25-23 score to seal the victory.

The Spartans will close out the UIndy Volleyball Invite with a 6:00 p.m. contest against Ashland on Saturday at the Athletic Recreation Center on the campus of the Greyhounds.  Links to live stats as well as a live video webcast will be provided via www.tampaspartans.com.

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