Elias' Triple-Double Leads Tampa in Victory Over Embry-Riddle

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – The University of Tampa Spartans faced off against the first place Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles in a Saturday afternoon SSC battle. The Spartans used a balanced offensive attack as they defeated the Eagles in four sets. With the victory Tampa now sits at 11-6 and 7-2 in conference. Embry-Riddle moves to 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the SSC. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Spartans scored the first two points of the game behind back-to-back kills by Sammy Mueller. Tampa continued to hold the advantage in the set, as they went up by as many as eight points at 17-9. ERAU went on a run as they pulled within two points at 19-17. UT was able to maintain the lead as they finished off the set at 25-20 following a kill by Sorrel Houghton.

In the second set, the two teams were even throughout as the two teams traded points throughout the set, with the teams tied up at 15. The teams would remain tied up as they were each at 19, when a kill by Katie McKiel put the Spartans up for good in the set. Sarah Luoma recorded the 25^th point in the set, as she picked up a solo block. As a team the Spartans swung at a .394 percentage for the set.

In the third set, ERAU was able to jump out to an early 9-5 lead. UT was able to close the gap and pull within one with the score at 9-8. The Eagles were able to go on a run as they went up by seven with the score at 18-11. Tampa was able to close the gap to two, with the score at 21-19 but the Eagles were able to close the set out with a 25-21 victory.

In the fourth set, the two teams again were close as the largest lead for either team was five points when Tampa held a 18-13 lead. Embry-Riddle was able to close the gap, as they went on to score the next four points to make the score 18-17 in favor of the Spartans. The Eagles were able to take over the lead from the Spartans as they went up 23-21, which forced a Tampa timeout. Following the timeout, the Spartans closed the game out scoring the next four points, winning the set with a final of 25-23.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Melissa Elias finished the game with a triple-double, as she had 17 digs, 12 assists and 11 kills. This marks the second triple-double in Tampa history, as Elias recorded the first one in program history last year.
• Sorrel Houghton led the way for Tampa as she recorded 14 kills in the game, along with five digs and two blocks.
• Kamari Potter finished the game with 12 kills and hit at a .571 percentage.
• Katie McKiel recorded 10 kills on the game with 12 digs in the match. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• With the victory, Tampa improves to 10-0 all-time against Embry-Riddle.
• With the victory, the Spartans now move into first place in the Sunshine State Conference.
• UT now holds a six-game winning streak.

UP NEXT

Next weekend the Spartans will head to Hoover, Alabama as they will participate in the SSC/GSC Crossover Classic. Brackets and game times will be announced later in the week.

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