ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Despite rallying from a 12-2 fourth-set deficit, the Eckerd Tritons (18-11, 8-7 SSC) could not outlast the seventh-ranked Tampa Spartans (27-2, 14-1 SSC), falling 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-8) on Tuesday evening at the McArthur Center.
Down 12-2 in the fourth set, a kill by
Taylor Whaley, one of 13 on the night for the freshman, sparked the Tritons on a 14-4 run, tying the match at 16-16 on a kill by
Allegra Shaw. After Tampa took a 17-16 lead, Whaley tied the match and Eckerd never looked back, ending the set on a kill by
Ariana Chinn
The Spartans, however, proved to be too much in the fifth set, maintaining at least a two point lead and reeling off four straight points at one juncture to coast to a 15-8 victory.
For the match,
Lydee Benoit led the Tritons with 17 kills and 15 digs while
Hallie Ward added 22 digs. Shaw also tallied 10 kills while notching a career-high .438 attack percentage.
Tampa's Melissa Vanderhall led all players with 27 kills while amassing 16 digs. Meaghan Sherman also dished out a match-high 56 assists.
Eckerd will conclude the regular season on Friday, November 13 as it hosts Barry on Senior Night at 7pm
