Playing five matches in the span of nine days and having each of those matches go into five sets, can be pretty tiring. For the Eckerd College women's volleyball team, fortunately they are great at rallying for late wins, which they have done for the last four out of those five matches, against Lynn, Rollins, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Florida Tech.
The Eckerd Tritons were able to pull of their third five set thriller against the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on Friday, October 30. It was a back and forth battle that proved to be an extremely important match for both sides. For the Sailfish, this match was decisive in determining their spot in the NCCAA tournament (which is for the Christian association that they are a part of). As for the Tritons, this was a regional match-up and thus important for their place in the Division II NCAA tournament that will be held at the end of the season.
Coach Courtney Draper expressed that because it was such an important game for both teams, “it was a really competitive match from the beginning,” which the Tritons became aware of after their loss in the first set.
“Everyone slept the three hours on the bus, so we might have still been sleeping in that first set. I think that once we were able to refocus a little bit, then obviously we were able to gain some momentum, but it was very back and forth and they [Palm Beach Atlantic] are a very strong team.”
Falling back into conference play the very next day at home versus the Florida Tech Panthers on Saturday, October 31 things were looking up for the Tritons after winning the first two sets with ease. However, the Panthers had other thoughts and were able to pull off two straight set wins and push the Tritons into a match determining fifth set. Hoping to get her team back in the game after set four, Coach Draper stressed to her team that they can pull off the victory.
“At that time our past three matches went five sets and we won, so I told them that it looked like the odds were in our favor, we are a good five set team, and just stick to what has been working earlier. Thank goodness it went our way.”
Thus far it would be safe to say that the second round of conference play has gone well for the Eckerd Tritons and they are very excited about the results. However, there is still a lot of play left to be had and all are really tough opponents. Fortunately the last two matches are home games, which make Coach Draper very happy and optimistic.
In the first round of conference play, the Tritons were able to go into Florida Southern territory and pull of a win in yet another five set clincher, which they have become quite acclimated to. Much like the Florida Tech game yet reversed, the Tritons were down two sets and were able to come back and win three in a row. Luckily this time around on Wednesday, November 4, the Tritons will be playing against Florida Southern at home, where they will have the upper hand.
“There probably is not another team that we are more evenly matched with other than Florida Southern. So again it's another battle for us, but I would like to think that we can beat them again in our home gym.”
As for Saint Leo University, who is currently ranked number one in the Sunshine State Conference, the situation is reversed. In round one of conference play the Triton's had the advantage of playing the Lions at home but unfortunately lost to them. On Saturday, November 7 the Triton's will be traveling for the last time this season to take on Saint Leo in their home court. Even though the Triton's lost to Saint Leo, they still played them really well, losing sets by only two or three points.
Coach Courtney Draper said, “I think we are somewhat evenly matched with them even though they have had a really great season. Being one of the closer schools to Eckerd, I consider them one of our cross-town rivals and it's always a good match. Hopefully our girls will be ready to play.”
As for the past five five-set matches that the Triton's have played, Coach Draper hopes to end that streak and obtain wins in three or four sets instead. “We are getting the end result, which is a win, which is what we want but I think that we can get some of those W's a little more efficiently. I think if we can be a tough serving team then that is going to allow us to advance in the match a little bit. We just really have to take care of our side of the court more than anything. We have to be consistent.”
