Spartans Swoop Past Warhawks To Start 2023 South Region Crossover

Orlando, Fla. – The No. 3 Spartans Start Strong at NCAA South Region Crossover 

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 25-13, 2: 24-26, 3: 25-17, 4: 25-22), Auburn-Montgomery 1

Records: No. 3 Tampa (18-0, 11-0 SSC), Auburn-Montgomery (16-8, 6-4 GSC)

Location: Game Point Events Center | Orlando, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: The Spartans came out hot to kick off their South Region Crossover effort, scoring the first five points of the match and sending the Warhawks into a very early timeout. Tampa's run over Auburn-Montgomery continued, as the Spartans cruised to a 14-4 lead with Warhawks' coach, Flavia Siqueira, calling her team's second timeout after their seventh error of the set. The Spartans went on to win the set, which wasn't tied at any point; Nathaly Perez and Tess Schrenger combined for 9 of Tampa's 14 first set kills with the team hitting .600 collectively. | Score: 25-13 Tampa

Second Set: The second set began much closer than the first with some initial back-and-forth action, but after the Warhawks went on a 7-1 run, Coach Catanach called the first timeout for the Spartans, as they fell down 9-5. However, coming out of the break, Tampa went on a 7-1 run of their own which similarly signaled a timeout from Auburn-Montgomery with Tampa now leading 12-10. With the timeouts proving to be beneficial thus far, the Warhawks were able to fire off 8 of the next 9 points, regaining the lead at 18-13. Again, coming out of their breather, the Spartans got themselves back into the set by outscoring the Warhawks 7-2 which tied the set at 20 all, as both sides headed into another timeout, this time courtesy of Auburn-Montgomery. Although tying the set at 24-24, the Spartans weren't able to close it out as the Warhawks ended the set with an ace. | Score: 26-24 Auburn-Montgomery

Third Set: Looking to get back on track, the Spartans came out in the third set the same as they did in the first, capturing a 6-2 lead. Attempting to run away with the set and not look back, the Spartans maintained a steady lead that ranged from 2 to 7 points for the entire set. Auburn-Montgomery called their first timeout of the set after a strong Spartan block from Mackenzie Dufresne, as well as Hayley Dillon, who the play before, recorded her first of 4 kills of the set. The Spartans called a timeout shortly after the Warhawks', which proved to be successful as the Spartans went on to close out the set on a 9-3 run.  | Score: 25-17 Tampa

Fourth Set: Although the fourth set began akin to the second, with some close back-and-forth play, the beginning of the set was mostly fell in favor of the Warhawks, who led 11-7 enetering Catanach's timeout. The Auburn-Montgomery lead persisted, and even grew to 18-13 with the Spartan's calling another timeout in an attempt to save the set. Coming out of their break hot, Tampa scored 5 straight which tied the set, as calling a timeout was the only response from Auburn-Montgomery to the quick run. The Spartans recorded two aces in the clutch, one from Zoey Seput and another, to close out the set and match, from JJ Ramirez. | Score: 25-22 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Emily Noe (21) and Seput (24) led both teams in assists
• Tampa held Auburn-Montgomery to a .075 hitting percentage 
• Jenna Davis and Dufresne each recorded .583 hitting percentages