WEEKEND PREVIEW: No. 2 Spartans Face 3 Game Conference Road Trip

Saturday, 4:00 p.m. at Nova Southeastern

#2 Tampa

• Coming off yet another successful weekend at home, the Spartans, now 22-0, are traveling across the state this week with stops at St. Leo, Palm Beach Atlantic, and lastly Nova Southeastern. The Spartans have continued their statistical dominance over the rest of the Sunshine State Conference; Currently, no. 1 in points, hitting percentage, assists, kills, digs, hitting percentage conceded, opponent kills and assists allowed, the two only categories that Tampa isn't ranked in the top 3 are aces and digs from opponents. Tampa tallied a total of 67 kills in their match against Lynn last weekend, which ranks as the 7th most in any game this season throughout all SSC games. JJ Ramirez, who is no. 1 in the SSC as she averages 4.80 digs a set, recorded 26 digs against Lynn which ranks as the sixth highest amount of digs in any SSC game this season. 

St. Leo 

• After losing to the Spartans in 5 sets on September 26, the Lions have lost 10 of their last 11 matches which included a streak of 6 games where they failed to win a set. This slump has tanked St. Leo's record to 9-13 while going 4-9 against Sunshine State Conference opponents, as they currently occupy the no. 8 position in the SSC standings. As a team, the Lions are allowing the third least assists from their opponents across the conference at 10.31 per set. Conversely, sophomore setter, Tajma Muharemovic, has amassed the third most assists throughout all of the SSC with 667 in only 80 sets.

Palm Beach Atlantic

• The Sailfish, similar to the St. Leo Lions, have an overall record of 9-12 with 3-9 coming against Sunshine State Conference Opponents. Having gone 2-4 in SSC play, with an additional 2 wins at the South Region Crossover, since being matched up against Tampa on September 30, Palm Beach Atlantic is hoping for some late-season success as they face 3 SSC opponents this week in Nova Southeastern, Tampa, and Florida Southern. Kaileigh Ammons, a senior hitter, is leading the entire SSC in service aces, as she is averaging 0.45 per set; There are a total of 5 sailfish within the top 18 in the SSC for aces thus far into the season. 

Nova Southeastern

• Although their loss to the Spartans earlier this season sparked a 3-game losing streak, the Sharks swiftly turned things around by winning 4 straight Sunshine State Conference matches before winning another 3 at the South Region Crossover. Standout hitter, Nadia Lindner, is averaging 4.21 kills per set (2nd in SSC), maintaining a hitting percentage of .296 (8th in SSC), and averaging 4.76 points a set (2nd in SSC). Teammate Madison Cook, a fifth-year setter, is no. 3 across the SSC in assists per set as she averages 9.77. Nova Southeastern faces Florida Southern, Tampa, and St. Leo this upcoming week as they look to move up in the SSC rankings, sitting at no. 5 currently.