WINTER PARK, Fla. (November 3, 2006) ' The
Rollins Tars shocked the Eckerd Tritons 3-2 (30-21, 30-20, 30-32,
28-30, 15-13) on Friday evening at Warden Arena.
The Tars were led by the superb offensive hitting of outside
hitter Piper Young who tallied a double-double with 25 kills and 12
digs. Outside hitter Stephanie Nichols also registered a
double-double with 17 kills and 13 digs. Junior middle blocker
Christina Reinders added 18 kills, five digs, four solo blocks and
two assisted blocks.
Setter Lacey Malarky notched an impressive 62 assists and libero
Kim Cline totaled 16 digs defensively.
In the first game, the Tars broke out to an 11-5 lead over the
Tritons, keeping that lead for the entire match. Reinders and Young
both had five kills in the Game 1 win 30-21.
Game 2 began much like Game 1 with Rollins jumping out to a 15-5
lead over Eckerd. The momentum stayed with the Tars' leading
offensive players, with Young hitting seven kills and Reinders five
kills to lead their team to a second game win 30-20.
Leading 21-8 in the third game, Rollins suddenly began to
unravel. At 25-16, the Tars gave up eight straight points to the
Tritons making the score 26-24 in favor of Rollins. The Tars and
Tritons battled back and forth until the score was a nail-biting
30-30. An attack error from Rollins and a kill from Eckerd's
outside hitter Angela White sealed the Game 3 victory for the
Tritons 32-30.
Trying to close out the match in the fourth game, Rollins
rallied with Eckerd for the entire game up until the score reached
28-28. A kill from Triton's outside hitter Keisha Carter and a
Tars' hitting error gave Eckerd the fourth game 30-28.
In the fifth and final game, outside hitters Young and Nichols
stepped up and combined for seven kills. Tied 13-13 with the crowd
stomping their feet against the bleachers, it was Nichols who
slammed a kill to give the Tars the 14-13 lead. Then, the fans rose
to their feet and it was Reinders who clinched the SSC victory for
Rollins with a kill (15-13).
Rollins previously lost to Eckerd 3-1 (25-30, 30-16, 30-25,
30-28) on October 1, 2006.
Outside hitter Lydee Benoit led Eckerd (20-13, 7-8)'with 20
kills, 14 digs and one block.
The Tars'(19-12, 7-8)'will celebrate senior night on Saturday,
November 4 as they take on the #2 Tampa Spartans (28-1, 14-1)'at
7:00 p.m.