No.1 Spartans Soar Pass No. 8 Falcons, Advancing To The Final Four

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The University of Tampa Spartans came out on top against the Bentley Falcons and are moving onto the NCAA Semifinals. 

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 25-16, 2: 24-26, 3: 25-14; 4: 25-13), Bentley 1

Records: No. 1 Tampa (32-1, 19-1 SSC), No. 8 Bentley (25-7, 9-2 NE-10)

Location: UPMC Events Center | Moon Township, Pa.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: Tampa came out aggressive in the opening set, with three straight kills from three different Spartans to capture an early lead at 3-0. This did not frighten the Falcons as they closed in on Tampa's lead with two kills from Ellie Wheeler. After some back and forth points, the Spartans went on a eight point run that included several attack errors from the Falcons and a kill by both Kalli Cors and Hayley Dillon. This prompted Bentley Head Coach, Joey Pacis, to call for the second timeout of the match. This would be no help as Tampa has already set the tone in their favor while Bentley continued to struggle to find momentum as they strung a few individual points from kills by Caitlin Wunder and Wheeler. At 22-16, Tess Schrenger would help the Spartans pull away with the opening set off of two aces, giving Schrenger a total of 33 service aces this season. | Score: 25-16 Tampa

Second Set: The second set saw a battle between the two teams as each tried to capitalize on the other's mistakes. After ten separate points where Tampa and Bentley were tied, the Spartans started to take control of the set as two Cors kills widen their lead to 17-15. The Falcons had to utilize their two timeouts as the Spartans continued to exert their dominance on the court to lead the set at 21-16 off of kills by Jenna Vaske and Cors. However, Bentley had no plans of giving up the set; with a five point run, the Falcons knotted the set at 21-21. Head Coach, Chris Catanach, signaled for the first timeout of the night for Tampa to recompose his team. This would be no use as the Falcons had a fire reignite within them. With kills by Rachel Vitko and Wunder, Bentley recaptured the lead at 25-24. Tampa's final timeout of the set would be called, but it would be no help as Bentley prevailed and clinched the set. | Score: 26-24 Bentley

Third Set: Tampa and Bentley stepped into the set in a similar fashion, fighting over the lead in the first few points of the match. After trailing by a point, the Spartans went on a four point run that included two Falcon errors and kills from MacKenzie Dufresne and Cors. Tampa continued to attack at the net with two Cors kills and a Jenna Davis kill to extend the lead to 11-6. The Falcons tried to slow down the Spartan's momentum, but it would be ineffective as Tampa created more scoring opportunities and less errors. With two Zoey Seput-assisted kills from Davis and Nathaly Perez, Tampa would claim the set. | Score: 25-14 Tampa 

Fourth Set: The Spartans captured an early lead, going on a five point run that included a Perez kill and several attack errors made by the Falcons. This set Bentley back on their heels as they tried to shift the momentum of the game back in their direction. However, Tampa continued to tread on and extend their lead to 10-4 with kills made by three different Spartans. Being attacked from different sides of the net, Bentley called for a timeout to regroup and find a way to stay in the set. The Spartans were energized with spirit and determination as they widen their lead to 19-10 with Seput-assisted kills by Schrenger and Davis. After another point went the Spartans' way, the Falcons utilized the final timeout of match. The set would soon fall into the Spartans' hands as back-to-back Emily Noe-assisted kills from Cors and Vaske would finalize the match. | Score: 25-13 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Spartans held the Falcons to a 0.152 hitting percentage

• Perez led the match with 14 kills

• Schrenger recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs