Spartans Claim Battle of the Bay from Tritons

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Commencing Sunshine State Conference play, the No. 16 University of Tampa volleyball team shelled Eckerd College on the road by a 3-1 final score on Friday in the McArthur Center.

The Spartans improve to 6-2 on the season with a 1-0 mark in SSC action while the hosting Tritons slip to 6-3 with a 0-1 tally to begin conference play.

Senior Allee Stelogeannis continues to prove that she is a force to be reckoned with, blasting a 21-kill barrage.  The conference leader in kills-per-set spun a double-double effort with 17 digs in the 3-1 win.

Freshman Nicole Dominguez added her own double-double effort behind 14 kills and 14 digs on defense, both career-highs. Sophomore Gen Beaumier swatted double-digit kills with a 10-1-24 line for a career-best .375 attack clip. Outside hitter Katie McKiel totaled 15 kills at a .375 clip to round out the Spartan offense.

Freshman Sammy Mueller led the setting tandem as the Gainesville, Fla. native posted 33 assists as the Spartans hit .306 as a team.

Libero Logan Holanchock led all Spartans with 19 digs to hold the defensive tempo for UT.

Stelogeannis provided a dual effort in the opening set, leading both squads with six kills and seven digs.  Freshmen Dominguez and McKiel each delivered a three-kill salvo to compliment Stelogeannis.  The Spartans ousted the Tritons 25-16 in the opening set to earn a 1-0 match lead.

Tampa coasted to a 2-0 match lead after taking set two by a 25-19 margin. Stelogeannis continued her rampage with another five kills to earn a double-double after just two stanzas of play.  The outside hitter concluded the second frame with 10 digs.  Middle blocker Taylor Fosler stymied the Eckerd offense with three blocks for a team-lead.

Eckerd battled back in the third set, earning a hard-fought 27-25 win.  The Tritons used strong stanzas from pin-hitters Lauryn Nelson and Katie Arnette to push the match to a 2-1 Tampa advantage.

UT traded blows with Eckerd in the fourth, ultimately taking the set by a 27-25 final score. Holanchock notched eight digs in the final frame to seal the deal for Tampa.

The Spartans will return home to host Saint Leo University for a Saturday, Sept. 17 match slated for a 7 p.m. start time. Live stats and a live video webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.

Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans) , Vimeo (www.vimeo.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (www.youtube.com/utathletics) and Instagram (tampaspartans). 

UT also offers free messaging service for text and/or email, which sends alerts and press releases for Spartan teams. To sign up, please register atwww.tampaspartans.com. A free app is also available for free download through Apple and Google Play stores. Please search for Tampa Spartans Front Row.