WINTER PARK-Fla. -
The Rolllins volleyball team tacked on two more wins to their
season total after sweeping both Shepherd and Barton, 3-0 during
action of the 2009 Rollins Invitational, Friday.
With the victories, Rollins improves to 6-0 on the season, which
marks the best start since 2001 when the Tars began their campaign
10-0.
Barton and Shepherd both fall to 1-5. Rollins downed Shepherd
25-20, 25-19, 25-19 before cruising past Barton, 25-18, 25-11,
25-22.
Against the Shepherd Rams, Rollins recorded its best statistical
performance of the season after smashing an attacking percentage of
.405. The .405 mark is the highest percentage since.429 effort
against Valdosta State back on Sept. 23, 2003. Middle blocker Jenny
Sherwood paved the way with match-best .692 after collecting 10
kills on 13 total attacks. Outside hitter Nikki Hartman trailed
with a .444 hitting percentage with 15 kills.
Hartman, a 2008 Second-Team Sunshine State Conference selectee, was
a dig shy in the following match against Barton to record a
double-double as she added 13 more kills. On the season, the
Deltona, Fla., has 86 kills with a .326 attacking percentage.
Hartman has led Rollins in kills every match this season.
After tallying six kills in the first match, right side hitter Caitlin
Vyborny reached double-digits for the first time this season
and 12th during her Rollins career with 11 against Barton.
Providing the assists for the attackers came from the steady play
of freshman Kiana Parks. Parks,
a native of Plano, Texas, had a 36 assist-effort against the Rams
before recording 35 against the Bulldogs in the Friday night
finale. She's racked up 227 assists, 220 more than second place,
libero Phobe Corder
Defensively, Phoebe Corder returned to
capture the team-best in digs with 12 and added 14 in the match
against Barton to increase her season total 65. The single-season
record holder a year ago, Corder is averaging 3.25 digs per set in
her sophomore season.
Middle blockers Natalie Branche and Sherwood
continued their dominant play at the net by adding four blocks
apiece. Branche had a pair of assisted blocks in both contests,
while Sherwood was the match-high with three against the Bulldogs.
Branche, the reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Week, has 22
blocks, nearly one-fourth of her total from 2008.
Rollins continues action of the 2009 Rollins Invite when it squares
off against No. 19 Minnesota State-Mankato at noon, before
concluding the tournament against Webber International at 6 p.m.
Fans can follow the action by viewing live stats or watch a live
stream on the Tars Sports Network.
