WINTER PARK, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Tampa
Spartans used three attackers with double-digit kill performances
to defeat the Rollins Tars, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) Thursday
evening in Sunshine State Conference action at Warden Arena.
The Tars (14-7, 1-4 SSC) were led by junior outside hitter Nikki
Hartman's match-high 13 kills and right side hitter Caitlin
Vyborny's 11. Defensively, Stephanie
Nichols registered a match-best 14 digs, while freshman libero
Phoebe
Corder trailed with nine.
The nationally-ranked Spartans (13-1, 4-1) countered with a trio
of hitters that collected 10 kills; sophomore outside hitter
Melissa Vanderhall, right side hitter Danielle MacDonald and Sam
Macks guided Tampa. Collectively, the Spartans hit a .333
attacking percentage, the highest mark a team has hit against the
Tars during the 2008 season.
In the first frame, the Spartans jumped out to a quick 11-5
lead. After extending its lead to seven at 16-9, the Tars would
inch closer scoring on four-straight points, which included a Natalie
Branche kill, followed by three Spartan errors. Leading 16-13,
Tampa built its lead back up to six at 21-15 capitalizing on a
Tars' attacking error.
After exchanging points, Rollins trailed again by six at 22-16
and cut the deficit to three with some help from its freshmen, Lora
Lieb and Grace
MacLean. With a quick set from senior setter Lacey
Malarky, Lieb collected her first kill of the night, which
preceded a MacLean serving ace. After a time out taken by Tampa at
23-20, the Spartans scored two unanswered points to secure the
victory.
In the second frame, the Tars limited Tampa to a .279 attacking
percentage and responded with 14 kills, but were unable to cut into
the Spartan's lead late. With an eight point advantage at 21-13,
Rollins would make its run, but was unable to get any closer than
three at 24-21.
In the final stanza, the Spartans started the frame on a 6-0
run, before the Tars rebounded to slice the lead to two at 9-7.
Rollins would not go away quietly as it tied the match at 14 after
a pair of Vyborny kills and took a lead on the next play, a MacLean
ace. Tampa countered with a mini run to take a three point lead at
20-17 and closed out the set capturing five out of the next nine
points.
Rollins falls to 0-4 on the season against ranked opponents and
will return to action, Saturday, Oct 4 at 7 p.m. for another
Sunshine Conference match-up against Eckerd.
