DAVIE, Fla. - The 21st-ranked Eckerd Tritons (6-5, 0-2 SSC) concluded its southeastern Florida trip with a 3-1 loss (26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17) to the No. 23 Nova Southeastern Sharks (9-5, 1-1 SSC) on Saturday afternoon at NSU's Don Taft Arena at the University Center.
In the first set, the Tritons found themselves down 25-24 before consecutive kills by
Taylor Manning gave Eckerd a 26-25 lead. After NSU tied up the match, Eckerd regained the lead on a kill by Regi Silva before a Shark attack error clinched the set for the Tritons, 28-26.
Manning led the Tritons with four kills on six attack attempts in the set while
Lydee Benoit led Eckerd with six digs. Eckerd only hit at a .135 clip but kept the Sharks at bay with a .159 attack percentage against.
In the second set, Nova Southeastern held a 20-12 lead but an attack error by NSU sprung Eckerd on an 11-4 run, narrowing the gap to 24-23. The Sharks however would clinch the set on a kill by Lucia Cizmarova.
Once again, Manning led the Tritons with five kills to go along with two total blocks while
Hallie Ward tallied six digs. Eckerd would only swing at a .191 clip bested by the Sharks' .233 attack percentage.
The third set was all NSU as the Sharks climbed out to a 15-7 lead, thanks in part, to eight total errors by the Tritons. Eckerd would go on to score four consecutive points before the Sharks score five straight times to make it 20-11, giving them control of the set en route to a 25-18 victory.
In the fourth set, an attack error by the Sharks trimmed their lead to 12-11 but a kill by McGruder sparked NSU on a 13-6 run, capped by a kill by Carly Perschnick to clinch the match for the home team.
For the match, Manning lead Eckerd with 14 kills and six total blocks while Benoit amassed 13 kills and 14 digs. Ward also finished with 18 digs. Taylor Pohlman led the Sharks with 14 kills while Valia Petrova dished out 48 set assists.
Eckerd will return to the hardwood on Tuesday, September 22 as it travels to Melbourne, Fla. to battle the Florida Tech Panthers to continue SSC play.
