No.1 Tampa Rallies to Beat No.3 Barry in Thriller

TAMPA, Fla. - The Spartans comeback to beat Barry to win battle of top three teams.

Final Score: No. 1 Tampa 3 (1: 25-22, 2: 13-25, 3: 22-25, 4: 25-15, 5: 15-13), No. 3 Barry 2

Records: No. 1 Tampa (16-0, 8-0 SSC), No. 3 Barry (14-2, 7-2 SSC)

Location: Bob Martinez Athletic Center | Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: Tampa got off to a hot start by quickly building a 6-3 lead off of a kill by Connor Rahn. After the Bucs climbed back to within one point at 13-12, Rahn would once again provide a kill to spark another streak where Tampa scored seven of the next nine points to grow their lead to six points. The Spartans would go on to cap off a set in which they never trailed. | Score: 25-22 Tampa

Second Set: Barry responded strongly by taking eight of the first 10 points of the set. Jenna Glaudel would record a kill to attempt to spark a Tampa comeback, but the Bucs would go on to run away with the second set to tie the match at one set each. | Score 13-25 Barry

Third Set: Barry started the third set similarly to how they did the second by taking an early 11-5 lead. Tampa would trail by as many as seven points, but once again Connor Rahn would spark a Tampa run with a big kill followed by a five point service run that included an ace. A big kill by Jenna Davis would bring the Barry lead down to two points, but Barry would hang on to take a two sets to one lead. | Score 22-25 Barry

Fourth Set: Jenna Glaudel started the fourth set in a big way with an ace. Tampa would use this to quickly build a 5-1 lead in the set off a kill from Tess Schrenger. Barry would battle back in the set to cut the Tampa lead to 13-12, but the Spartans would dominate the rest of the set by winning 12 of the final 15 points. | Score: 25-15 Tampa

Fifth Set: Barry started set 5 strongly by jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Tampa would battle back and tie the set at 8 courtesy of consecutive kills from Connor Rahn. The 5th set featured seven ties as the teams exchanged points until it was 13-13 when Zoe Richardson came in for the first time in the game to serve. Tess Schrenger would end the back and forth with a big kill to set up the only match point Tampa would need to secure the victory. | Score: 15-13 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Connor Rahn and Tess Schrenger each tallied double-digit kills.
• Connor Rahn led the team in kills (19) and hitting percentage (.341).
• The Spartans improved to 16-0.
• Jenna Glaudel and Kayla Dondero each recorded 20 assists on the match.
• Jenna Glaudel recorded 9 digs to surpass 100 career digs.
• Ana Rivera led the Spartans with 24 digs.
• Jenna Davis, Rachel Gregg, and Nathaly Perez each had 5 blocks.