Tampa Wins Five-Set Thriller Behind Career Performances from McKiel and Elias

ST. LEO, Fla.  – The University of Tampa Spartans returned back to Sunshine State Conference play as they traveled to play the Saint Leo University Lions. After falling into an early 2-0 hole, UT would storm back over SLU to win the match 3-2. With the victory, the Spartans improve to 15-6 overall and 8-2 in Sunshine State Conference play. Saint Leo falls to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED          

The two teams were even throughout the first set, as neither team held more than a three-point lead. The Lions were able to build the three-point lead as they held a 13-10 advantage over the Spartans. Tampa would then go on a run, scoring the next six points, as they held a 16-13 advantage. Tampa held a one-point lead over Saint Leo at 25-24, but Saint Leo scored the next three points to win the first set by a final score of 27-25.

SLU jumped on UT early in the second set as they were able to score the first six points of the set. Tampa was able to battle back as they narrowed the lead down to three at 10-7. UT was unable to close the gap against SLU, as the Lions won the second set by a final score of 25-19.

Saint Leo jumped out to another early lead over Tampa, as they went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-4 lead. The Spartans were able to battle back as they were able to tie the game at 21. UT would take their first lead of the set as they scored the next two points as they went up 23-21. The teams would trade points in the final moments of the set, as the Spartans would win by a final score of 27-25.

The Lions jumped out to another early lead, as they went up 3-0 on the Spartans. UT would then go on their own 4-0 run to take a lead on SLU. The two teams would remain close, as Tampa held a 12-10 lead over Saint Leo. Tampa would take over the match as they went on to score the next seven points to take a 19-10 lead. The Spartans would not allow the lead to get away as they won the set 25-15.

In the fifth and final set, Tampa would come out the gate swinging, jumping out to a commanding 6-2 lead. Saint Leo would score two of the next three points that made the narrowed the lead to 7-4. UT would go and score the next seven points, to all but put the match away as Tampa was up 14-4. Kamari Potter would close out the match for Tampa as she recorded the final kill of the match to wrap things up at 15-6.

INSIDE THE STATS

• Katie McKiel finished the game with a career high 29 kills. She also added another 16 digs.
• Melissa Elias finished the game with a career high 17 kills and added 11 digs and eight assists.
• Sammy Mueller recorded a season-high 57 assists and added 11 digs.
• Sorrel Houghton and Kamari Potter each finished the game with 11 kills. Potter also finished with a .500 hitting percentage.
• Nicole Dominguez recorded a game-high 23 digs.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Tampa and Saint Leo have split the regular-season series with one win each.
• UT improves their record over SLU to 88-6 all-time.
• This is McKiel's seventh double-double of the year.
• It was also Elias' seventh double-double on the season.

UP NEXT

The Spartans will return home on Thursday, as they welcome in the Rollins College Tars into the Martinez Center. The game is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

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