TAMPA, Fla. – The Tars fell to No. 3 Tampa on Friday night, dropping the SSC road contest in straight sets (21-25, 15-25, 20-25).

Kayla Goodloe led the Rollins offense with five kills, while Robinson Repass and Cameron Grange chipped in three apiece. At the service line, Lelolai Paulino-Dinzey tallied three aces, while Grange added two. Jenna Garza and Molly Morris split time directing the offense, recording nine and eight assists, respectively.

Defensively, Rylee Yarborough led the Tars with seven digs, while Goodloe paced the effort at the net with two total blocks.

Both sides traded points to open the match before a kill from Garza gave the Tars an early 3-2 edge. Tampa responded with consecutive points before a Spartan error brought Rollins even at four.

Tampa was the first to create some separation, with Vivian Scuteri breaking up the run with a kill. Another Spartan push stretched the advantage to five before a pair of Tampa errors allowed the Tars to cut into the deficit.

Goodloe came up with a rejection at the net to pull Rollins within three, and after Tampa answered, she responded with a kill before finding the floor again moments later to keep the Tars within striking distance.

Rollins remained within three until consecutive Spartan points created some breathing room. Scuteri halted the run with a kill before another Tampa miscue and a Grange ace pulled the Tars back within two.

The Spartans answered once again, rebuilding their lead to five as the set entered its final stretch. Morris and Repass each found the floor to keep Rollins fighting before Aryanna Spainhower came off the bench and delivered a kill of her own. Goodloe and Scuteri added late finishes, but Tampa held off the push to take the opener, 25-21.

The sides went back and forth to begin the second, with Goodloe delivering the first Rollins kill before teaming up with Repass for a block.

The Tars then caught fire from the service line. Three Tampa errors combined with three Paulino-Dinzey aces and a Grange kill powered Rollins to a 9-3 advantage.

Tampa responded with a run of its own, eventually erasing the deficit and surging ahead, 16-11. Yarborough finally stopped the stretch with a kill before Repass added another finish shortly after to keep the Tars within reach.

The Spartans regained control from there, closing out the second, 25-15, to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Rollins again came out firing in the third. Repass opened the frame with a kill, Goodloe followed with one of her own and Yarborough delivered an ace as the Tars jumped ahead, 4-0.

Tampa battled back to pull even before three Spartan errors handed the advantage back to Rollins. Grange helped the Tars regain their offensive rhythm as the Blue and Gold maintained a 9-6 lead, with Yarborough adding a kill shortly after to keep the cushion intact.

Grange came up with a block moments later as Rollins continued to hold off the Spartans, but Tampa eventually made its move midway through the set, rallying to take an 18-16 advantage.

Grange answered from the service line with an ace to help pull Rollins even at 18, but the Spartans responded with a late run to surge ahead, 22-18.

Grange delivered a kill to keep the Tars alive, but Tampa found the points it needed down the stretch to take the third, 25-20, and secure the match.

The Spartans improve to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in SSC play, while the Tars move to 7-7 and 0-3 in conference action.

Rollins returns to action on Saturday, September 26, remaining on the road to take on Florida Southern in Lakeland.