Tampa Topples Florida Tech 3-1 on the Road

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No. 19 University of Tampa volleyball team earned a 3-1 bounce-back victory over Florida Tech on Thursday in the Clemente Center to earn its third Sunshine State Conference victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: No. 19 Tampa 3, Florida Tech 1 (25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-16)
Records: Tampa Spartans (9-4, 3-2 SSC), Florida Tech Panthers (2-10, 0-4 SSC)
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

Set 1 | UT used its defense to take the first game as it opened play with five blocks, rallying behind the serve of setter Jen Aprile.  Tampa rolled to a 19-9 lead after the junior's efforts as freshman Nicole Dominguez picked up four kills and two solo blocks. Libero Logan Holanchock finished with six digs as the Spartans rolled to a 25-18 win.

Set 2 | The Panthers capitalized on 12 errors from Tampa to take the second set by a 25-18 tally. Sophomore Gen Beaumier totaled three kills in the stanza while Dominguez and Holanchock each posted three digs.

Set 3 | Despite staring down a 24-22 deficit, Tampa rallied to finish the third set with a pair of blocks and win the match advantage by a 26-24 score.  Outside hitter Leigh Buttner totaled three kills for Tampa while fellow outside hitter Allee Stelogeannis added five for a set-high.

Set 4 | Beaumier blasted five kills in the fourth as Tampa stormed to a 25-16 win in the final set to clinch the match. Junior Molly McAlvany added four kills to provide an outside threat for UT.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Pin hitters Beaumier and Buttner each recorded career-highs in kills, as the duo swatted 12 and seven kills, respectively to set their new career mark in the category.

• Junior McAlvany hit at a career-best .417 attack percentage (6-1-12).

• Opposite hitter Beaumier finished the game with a .423 attack percentage to lead the team (12-1-26).  Sophomore Holanchock paced the back row with 17 digs.

• Freshman Dominguez set a new career-mark with three solo blocks while Buttner mirrored with her own three-block outing. Sophomore Alexandra Misca concluded with five blocks to lead UT.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tampa totaled five blocks in the first set, a season first for the Spartans as they finished the match with 12, tying their season high (Sept. 9 at Indianapolis).

• Three Spartans notched double-doubles as Stelogeannis posted her fourth-consecutive double-double and eighth of the season behind a 15-kill, 12 dig showing. Setters Sammy Mueller added her own double-double effort with 26 assists and 10 digs while fellow setter Aprile combined 17 assists and 10 digs for her first of the season.

• The Spartans have not lost a match to the Panthers in the history of the program, owning a 73-0 record in the all-time series after the 3-1 win on Thursday.

UP NEXT:

UT will return home to host Lynn University on Friday, Oct. 7 for a 7 p.m. contest. Live stats and a live video webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com. 

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