WINTER PARK, Fla. -
Freshman outside hitter Mikayla
Pierce led an energized Rollins squad with 13 kills to sweep
the Barry Buccaneers, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-16) in front of a
rambunctious Warden Arena crowd, Friday evening.
Pierce was zoned in during her 13 kill performance committing only
one attacking error to finish with a .353 hitting percentage, the
best mark in her five previous matches. The Fresno, Calif.,
native increased her season total to 172.
Following Pierce for the Tars (12-6, 1-4 Sunshine State Conference)
was senior outside hitter Nikki Hartman with 12.
Hartman was a dig away from recording a double-double as she
finished with nine digs and added an ace and block.
Defensively, the Tars held Barry (9-4, 1-3 SSC) to a .119 hitting
percentage, the 12th time they have held their opponent to under
.200. The Buccaneers received a match-high 14 kills from its season
leader Julia Teixiera. However, Teixera was held as the lone
attacker to record double-digit in kills.
Limiting the Buccaneers attacking percentage was libero Phoebe
Corder with 14 digs. Corder, the Tars' single-season record
holder, was stellar on the court denying attempt after attempt from
the Buccaneers front line.
Freshman defensive specialist Kayla Austin added 10 digs
to increase her season total to 131. The Chapel Hill, N.C., native
now has four double-digit dig efforts in her first season.
The conference leader in blocks, Natalie Branche, continued
her dominance with a solo and assisted block. Fellow middle
blocker Jenny Sherwood tied a
match-best four blocks, while freshman Jill
Lau had a clutch solo block in the second set to finish with
two on the night.
Rollins came out firing in the first, building a six-point lead at
the 16-10 mark. The Buccaneers answered the enthusiasm later
recording five-straight kills and eventually tying the match at
20. Rollins took advantage of four-straight Barry attacking errors
and sealed the first set victory with a Pierce cross-court shot
from a perfect pass from setter Kiana
Parks to claim the 25-20 win.
Riding high in the second set, the Tars again built a comfortable
lead, doubling up Barry mid-way through the frame at 14-7. After
extending its lead to 11 at 20-9, Barry stormed back capitalizing
on a few Tars miscues to trim the lead to 23-19. Rollins received
a break on an attacking error from Julia Ridley, but the Buccaneers
made things interesting with back-to-back kills from Teixiera and
cut the deficit to one at 24-23. The Tars went back to what was
working setting up Hartman on the right side and after a failed
block attempt from the Buccaneers, Rollins went ahead 2-0 in the
match.
A deflated Buccaneer squad came out in the third and final set
being held to a match-low .088 hitting percentage, while the Tars
enjoyed the match-high .297 attacking effort. Rollins distanced
itself early and never let Barry any closer than five in the latter
half of the set.
With the win, Rollins snaps a five-match losing streak and now
trails in the all-time series against Barry, 15-30.
The Tars return to conference action, Saturday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.
when it welcomes Nova Southeastern to Warden Arena. The match can
be heard live on the Tars Sports Network.
