Despite Falling Behind Early, Tampa Tops Valdosta State on Road

Valdosta, Ga. – Tampa kicked off the weekend strong at the Premiere Crossover Event defeating Valdosta State in 4 sets.

 

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 16-25, 2: 25-16, 3: 26-24, 4: 25-11) Valdosta State 1

 

Records: Tampa (7-0, 0-0 SSC), Valdosta State (6-3, 0-0 GSC)

 

Location: The Complex | Valdosta, Ga.

 

First Set: Looking for a successful start to the weekend, the Spartans gained a three-point lead earned from a kill by Jenna Davis. The Spartans fight to keep the lead, however, only score 2 of the 11 following points, forcing Head Coach Chris Catanach to call a timeout. Following the timeout, the Blazers continue to put pressure on the Spartans. The Spartans earned 5 of the 13 continuing points causing Tampa to call their second timeout of the set, at 13-20. The Spartans persist to fight for a momentum switch, but end up falling short in the first set. | Score: 25-16 Valdosta State

 

Second Set: After failing to take the first set, the Spartans came out battling for a fourth set. Zoey Seput starts the set off by scoring back-to-back aces for the Spartans. A few points later, Nathaly Perez scores two kills in a row, giving the Spartans a four-point lead. As Tampa continues to put pressure on the Blazers, Head Coach Kaleigh Zoucha calls Valdosta State's first timeout of the set. The Spartans went on to earn six more points before Valdosta State called their second timeout of the set, at 14-8. Following the timeout, Tampa dominated the last stretch, earning 11 of the last 19 points of the second set. | Score: 25-16 Tampa

 

Third Set: Beginning the third set, Tampa used their momentum from the second set to gain a lead early in the third. Right off the bat, Perez earned the first two points with back-to-back kills. The Blazers manage to tie the score up at 6-6 and gain their first lead of the match, forcing the Spartans to take a timeout. Following the timeout, the Spartans attempted to tie up the score again earning three of the next four points. The Blazers continued to widen the gap in the score causing the Spartans to call their second timeout of the set. The Spartans earned the following three points putting pressure on Valdosta State to call their first timeout of set three. After the timeout, Meghan Schreck earned two kills and Perez one, to force the Blazers into calling their second timeout. Tampa continued to put pressure on the Blazers, tying the score up six more times until the Spartans finished up the set with another kill by Perez. | Score: 26-24 Tampa

 

Fourth Set: After winning a tight third set, the Spartans look to close out the match in the fourth set. Perez, Schreck, and Kalli Cors dominated the beginning of the fourth set each earning two kills within the first 13 points of the set. This forced the Blazers to call their first timeout. Following the timeout, Mak Carter scored three kills of the next nine points, forcing Valdosta State to use their second timeout. The Spartans go on to earn a ten-point lead post timeout by scoring two kills and an ace. Three of the next seven points were earned by Cors, one service ace and two kills. The Spartans close out the match quickly with a kill by Schreck on match point. | Score: 25-11 Tampa