Tampa Splits Doubleheader on Second Day of Tampa Classic

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans volleyball team split contests on the second day of the Tampa Classic, going 1-1 with a win against the Ashland University Eagles in the second match. Tampa fell to #17 Northwest Missouri State in the first match.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Match One Final: #17 Northwest Missouri State 3 (1; 25-23, 3; 25-14, 5; 17-15), #5 Tampa 2 (2; 25-19, 4; 25-16)

Match Two Final: #5 Tampa 3 (1; 25-18, 2; 25-17, 3; 25-16), Ashland 0

Location: Bob Martinez Athletics Center || Tampa, Fla.

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HOW IT HAPPENED, MATCH ONE:

First Set: Tampa found a quick 3-0 lead to begin the first set via an attack error by the Bearcats, a kill by freshman Kalli Cors (from Melissa Elias) and a kill by Mackenzie Dufresne (from Melissa Elias). The Spartans run continued, as they went up 10-5 halfway through the set. The Bearcats didn't go quietly and used a 7-0 run to fuel momentum, and ultimately won the set 25-23. Score: 1-0 NWM

Second Set: Tampa flipped the script in the second set beginning with a 10-1 run with NWM's only point coming from a Spartan attack error. Senior Taylor Fosler and freshman Emily Noe got things going for Tampa with two kills for Fosler on two sets from Noe. Senior Katie McKiel also added two kills during the run, both from Noe. The Bearcats answered with a 9-3 run to cut the lead to four, 14-10 Tampa. The Spartans went 10-5 the rest of the way to capture the second set. Score: 1-1 Tied

Third Set: The Bearcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead to begin the third set. Their momentum never wavered, as they were the first to 15 (15-7) and ultimately won the set 25-14. Score: 2-1 NWM

Fourth Set: Senior Melissa Elias started the scoring with a kill (from senior Sorrel Houghton). Tampa and the Bearcats traded blows in a highly competitive fourth set. Elias continued to produce for the Spartans, setting up three teammates for consecutive kills: two by Fosler and one from Houghton, leaving Tampa with narrow 5-3 lead. Halfway through the set the score was tied 8-8 and a Tampa 12-5 run made the match 20-13. The Spartans won the set 25-16. Score: 2-2 Tied

Fifth Set: The Spartans looked promising early, going on a 10-4 run in the final set. Kills by McKiel (from Elias) and a kill by Cors (from Elias) contributed. The Bearcats would not go quietly and answered with 13-5 run of their own to capture the set and win the match. Score: 3-2 NWM

HOW IT HAPPENED, MATCH TWO:

First Set: The Spartans rushed out to a 5-1 lead early in the set with kills from freshman Kalli Cors (from senior Melissa Elias), senior Katie McKiel (from senior Claudia Rivera). The Bearcats responded, tying the set 5-5. Four consecutive kills, three by Cors (one from senior Taylor Fosler and two from Elias) and one by Fosler made the Spartans first to 15, who ultimately won the set 25-18. Score: 1-0 Tampa

Second Set: The Spartans and Eagles went back-and-forth in the second set with the score, at one point, tied 9-9. Three consecutive UT kills (Houghton from freshman Emily Noe; senior Sarah Luoma from Rivera; Cors from Elias) ignited a 6-1 run and the Spartans won the set 25-17. Score: 2-0 Tampa

Third Set: The Spartans ran away with the third set, were the first to 15 (15-7) and won the final set 26-16. The Spartans started the final set with a 5-0 run with two kills by Luoma from Noe. Score: 3-0 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS, MATCH ONE:

• Melissa Elias continued her monster start to the season with a double-double of 29 assists and 20 digs.
• Two Spartans had double-digit assists: Emily Noe (16) and Elias (29).
• Two Spartans had double-digit kills: Katie McKiel (18) and Kalli Cors (12).
• Senior Claudia Rivera's 30 digs were a career high.
• Three other Spartans had double-digit digs: Elias (20), Sorrel Houghton (12), and Cors (11).

INSIDE THE STATS, MATCH TWO:

• UT had five players with five or more kills: Kalli Cors (9), Sorrel Houghton (8), Katie McKiel (8), Taylor Fosler (5), and Sarah Luoma (5).
• Emily Noe enjoyed a double-double of 18 assists and 10 digs.
• Claudia Rivera joined Noe as the only other Spartan with 10 or more digs (12).
• Cors hit .600 on 15 attempts and 9 kills.

UP NEXT: The Spartans continue their out-of-conference early season road trip with matches against Molloy and Adelphi on Friday, September 10 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, respectively.