Tampa Defangs St. Mary's In Three Sets

San Antonio, Texas. – Tampa remains unbeaten after sweeping St. Mary's, ending the first day of the Rattler Invitational.

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 25-20, 2: 25-23, 3: 25-22), St. Mary's 0

Records: Tampa (5-0, 0-0 SSC), St. Mary's (4-2, 0-0 LSC)

Location: Bill Greehey Arena | San Antonio, Texas.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: Looking to build from their successful opening game, the Spartans took control early, coming out to an 8-3 lead over the Rattlers. However, later a 7-2 St. Mary's run helped the Tournament hosts tie and even lead the set at 13-12. The two teams continued exchanging blows until a bad Rattler set had Head Coach Laura Ulrich wanting a timeout, now down 19-17. Tampa held on to their two-point lead but, an ace from Kalli Cors put the Spartans one step closer to taking the first set and also prompted another St. Mary's timeout. A well-placed kill from Tess Schrenger sealed the first set for the Spartans.                | Score: 25-21 Tampa

Second Set: Similar to the first set, Tampa captured an early lead that was grown to 10-6 after back-to-back-to-back Spartan kills from Jenna Davis, Zoey Seput, and Cors, respectively. However, an eventual four kills plus a block from the Rattlers tied the set at 13 all as Tampa took their first timeout of the set. Another kill from Cors that was set up by Seput, who totaled 17 assists in just the second set alone, sent the Rattlers to a late timeout as the Spartans now led 22-20. Tampa was forced to regroup even later as St. Marys cut the lead to one and subsequently knotted the set at 23. Same as the previous set, Schrenger closed out the final Spartan point, only this time with a towering block.   | Score: 25-23 Tampa

Third Set: Trying to stay perfect on the day, Tampa was looking to close out the match in the third set by jumping out to yet another early lead. However, in this set the Rattlers caught the Spartan lead after scoring four straight, which caused Head Coach Chris Catanach to call his earliest timeout of the match at 7-7. Tampa soon regained control of the set, now leading 14-11 with the Rattlers calling a timeout. The two teams battled back and forth in the middle of the set until St. Mary's seemingly closed the gap at 19-19. The last Rattler timeout of the set and match came after Rachel Gregg and Cors stuffed the home team at the net. Tampa closed out their prosperous first day by way of back-to-back kills, one from Cors and another from Nathaly Perez, her 15th of the match.  | Score: 25-22 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Zoey Seput led both teams with 47 assists.

• Tampa held St. Mary's to a .195 hitting percentage.

• Kalli Cors accounted for an impressive 21 kills.