No. 9 Spartans Down Fighting Knights To Improve To 23 Wins On The Season

TAMPA, Fla. – The ninth ranked University of Tampa volleyball team continues its success with a win over Lynn University.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:   

Final Score: No. 9 Tampa Spartans 3 (1: 17-25, 2: 25-15, 3: 25-15 4: 25-20), Lynn Fighting Knights 1

Records: No. 9 Tampa (23-2, 14-1 SSC), Lynn (14-11, 9-6 SSC)   

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

All-Time Series: Tampa holds a sizable series lead over Lynn with a record of 46-4.    

Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube    

HOW IT HAPPENED:   

First Set: The first set was closely fought between the Spartans and the Fighting Knights. The Fighting Knights started to pull away with the lead at the end of the set as they were able to earn the victory in set number one. Despite this the Spartans did not give up without a fight, putting up 10 kills led by Katie McKiel. || Score: 1-0 Lynn 

Second Set: Lynn began the second set with a very strong defensive showing but, it was back and forth between the two teams. After obtaining the lead in the middle of the set, the Spartans forced the Fighting Knights to call two timeouts within minutes of each other. With an outstanding offensive showing, the Spartans closed out the set with a final score of 25-15. Freshman Kalli Cors led the Spartans in kills throughout the duration of the set as she recorded nine through the first two sets. || Score: Tied 1-1

Third Set:  The Spartans opened the set with a strong offensive attack, causing the Fighting Knights to call a timeout with a score of 7-3. However, the Spartans continued their dominate performance in the middle of the set and built a 20-11 lead, utilizing kills from seniors McKiel and Sorrel Houghton. Lynn would push back towards the end of the set but the Spartans early offensive push in this set, once again would prove too much for the Fighting Knights. Tampa would take the set 25-15.  || Score: 2-1 Tampa    

Set Four: The fourth set would begin very similarly to the first two, with both teams putting up points to keep the score close. McKiel and Cors would continue their excellent play as the duo would finish the game combined for 29 kills. With the Spartans up 21-18 late in the set, a timeout was called by Lynn but it was too little, too late as Tampa would take the set 25-20 and the game. || Final 3-1 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:   

• Claudia Rivera has recorded double digit digs in her last 22 of 24 games, as she recorded 18 on the night.
•  Kalli Cors led the Spartans with 16 kills.
• Melissa Elias led the game in assists tonight as she recorded 23.
• Emily Noe posted her fifth game of the season with at least 20 assists as she recorded 20 on the night.  

UP NEXT: The Spartans return to action this alumni weekend as they defend their home court and take on Palm Beach Atlantic tomorrow at 4 PM.

GAMEDAY MULTIMEDIA: Fans may watch all home games and Sunshine State Conference contests on TampaSpartans.tv. Live stats are also available through TampaStats.com.   

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