ST. PETERSBURG - Eckerd Volleyball improved its record to 6-3 as it defeated the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on Saturday afternoon, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 26-24), knocking PBA's record down to 4-4. All three sets were very competitive as they all were decided by a two-point margin. Eckerd was victorious thanks to a total of 46 kills in 113 total attacks.
The match started off with Eckerd scoring five of the match's first seven points. Tritons' outside hitter
Lydee Benoit, who was named Player of the Week by the Sunhine State Conference, helped Eckerd pull away with three kills in the first set. As Benoit led all players with 16 kills, she believes that this is what fans can expect from her for the rest of the season.
“Hopefully you can expect a lot,” Benoit said. “It's my senior year, and I want to go out and try my hardest.”
The first set was deadlocked at 23-23 until Regi Silva, who had four kills in the first set, notched a kill to give the Tritons the lead for good and a 25-23 first set victory.
Palm Beach Atlantic's offense fired on all cylinders in the second set as it connected at a .429 clip but Eckerd proved to be too much as Benoit led the way with six kills in the set while
Ariana Chinn connected on five of her 11 total kills for the match.
The third and final set was another close battle, as Eckerd had to come-from-behind late in the set to clinch the match. Despite trailing 23-21, the Tritons managed a come back thanks to Benoit who, at one point, registered three straight kills for Eckerd while helping tally the final two points of the match, assisting on consecutive blocks with
Taylor Manning.
When asked how her team showed such steadiness on the court, Head Coach Courtney Draper responded by saying, “We have a detailed game plan, so toward the end of the game, we still stick to the plan. And if they stick to it, they will win a lot of games.”
Eckerd will now turn its attention, and five-match winning streak, to SSC play as it travels next Friday to battle Lynn at 7pm before face Nova Southeastern on Saturday at 4pm.
“We have such a great group of girls that are fearless,” Draper continued. “We also have great leaders. We have four seniors this year. Leadership is the key to the game. This group of girls is so focused and determined, that they are ready to really do business this year.”
