No. 13 Spartans Sink the Argonauts in NCAA South Region Sweeping

Boca Raton, FL. – UTampa kicks off the NCAA South Region Tournament by Sweeping West Florida. The Spartans will take on the 2-seeded Barry Buccaneers tomorrow, December 7, at 4:00 pm.

Final Score: Tampa 3 (1: 25-20, 2: 25-11, 3: 25-22), West Florida 0

Records: Tampa (25-4, 16-4 SSC), West Florida (27-6, 20-0 GSC)

Location: de Hoernle Sports Center | Boca Raton, FL.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set:  The Spartans started strong in the tournament, scoring 7 of the first 8 points. After AVCA All-South Region First Team member Kalli Cors recorded a kill and a solo block back-to-back, the Argonauts called their first timeout of the match. Also named to the AVCA All-South Region First Team, Nathaly Perez contributed 2 of her 5 total first-set kills to interrupt a 5-0 West Florida scoring run, which led Tampa to call their first timeout of the day as their lead shrank to 22-20. UTampa closed out the first set in the next three plays, highlighted by kills from Mak Carter and Cors.   . | Score: 25-20 Tampa

Second Set:  Similar to the first set, UTampa took an early lead in the second set, going up 8-3 after consecutive West Florida errors, prompting an Argonaut timeout. Following the stoppage, the Spartans rattled off 7 straight points, highlighted by 3 blocks from Carter, 2 of which were assisted by AVCA All-South Region First Team member Zoey Seput. With their largest lead at 22-8, the Spartans closed out a set where they were tied only at 1-1 and held the Argonauts to a -.162 team-hitting percentage. | Score 25-11 Tampa

Third Set:  Following the pattern of the first two sets, the Spartans built an early lead in the final set, extending it to 10-3 after Carter blocked an Argonauts attack and then assisted a Cors kill on the very next play. Shortly after the timeout, West Florida scored 4 of the next 6 points, cutting Tampa's lead to 16-12, prompting Head Coach Chris Catanach to call his first timeout of the day. A strong kill from Jenna Davis capped off a late offensive surge and gave the Spartans a comfortable lead for the final plays of the set. Although West Florida chipped away at the lead, Seput assisted freshman standout, Connor Rahn on the Spartans' final two points, giving her 5 kills in the set.  | Score: 25-22 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Rahn and Cors each recorded 9 kills, while Perez and Carter added 8 each, leading the match.
• Seput led the match with 37 assists.
• Carter (6), Perez (4), and Seput (3) led the match with 13 kills.