Spartans Tame Panthers in Four Sets

MELBOURNE, Fla.  – The University of Tampa Spartans traveled to Melbourne to take on the Florida Tech Panthers in a Friday night SSC Battle. UT claimed the victory in four sets as they improved their record to 10-6 and 6-2 in the SSC. FIT falls to 2-13 overall and 1-6 in the SSC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first set, the two teams were battling back and forth, as the two teams were all squared up at 12. The Spartans would then take the next three point to go up 15-12 in the set. The Spartan maintained the lead and went up 24-18 before the Panthers went on their own run to pull the game within one point at 24-23. Following a UT timeout, Sorrel Houghton finished out the set with a kill.

The Spartans came out swinging to begin set two as they went on a 12-2 run to open the set, including eight straight points with Houghton serving.  The Spartans would continue to lead as they were the first to 20 points, with a 20-11 lead. FIT would not give up, as they were able to pull within two points at 23-21, before the Spartans finished out the set with a 25-21 victory.

In the third set, the two team were close throughout the early part of the set as the two teams were tied at 11. Florida Tech would then go on to score six of the next seven point to take a 17-12 advantage. The Panthers would hold off a Spartan comeback, winning the set 25-21.

Like the first and third sets, the two teams were even early on as Tampa held a 9-8 lead. UT would then find their groove in the set, as they would go on to score the next 16 of the next 20 points to win the set 25-12.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Katie McKiel led the Tampa attack as she hit at a .286 percentage and recorded 19 kills.
• Sorrel Houghton also recorded double digit kills, as she finished the night with 13 kills.
• Sammy Mueller ended the night with 34 assists and 17 digs to pick up a double-double.
• Melissa Elias recorded a double-double as she racked up 12 digs and 11 assists.
• Nicole Dominguez tallied 26 digs on the night.
• In the middle, Kamari Potter and Mackenzie Defresne had a total of three blocks each.
• UT would hold FIT to a .176 hitting percentage on the night.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Tampa now improves to 86-0 all-time against Florida Tech.
• UT is now on a five-game winning streak.
• McKiel has recorded at least 15 kills in nine games this season.
• This was Mueller's fifth double-double of the year.
• Elias now has three double-double on the year.

UP NEXT

Tampa returns to action tomorrow as they face off against Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach.

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