Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Junior
Alex Laton tied a season-best total with 18 kills on a staggering .615 hitting percentage while adding six blocks as the 22nd-ranked Eckerd College volleyball team dug in deep to prevail in five sets over a stingy University of North Alabama squad on Friday, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11).
Current AVCA Div. II National Player of the Week
Lindsay Biggs drilled 17 kills and
Ariana Chinn contributed 11 to go along with eight total blocks.
Olivia Fraser was another dual-threat with 10 kills and six blocks.
The Tritons (22-3 overall) outblocked the Lions (22-8 overall), 15-3, while overcoming a dozen service aces put into play by their opponent. Eckerd countered with five, including two each by Biggs and
Kaleigh Humphrey.
Eckerd extended its school-best win streak to 14 straight and took down a program that came in fifth in the latest NCAA South Region rankings. The Tritons are currently ranked second, respectively.
“There's no question North Alabama made us work for this win,” EC Head Coach Courtney Draper said. “They were very scrappy and our defense really rose to the occasion. Alex (Laton) was outstanding in controlling the middle and I'm proud of the way we came back to defend our home court.”
Senior setter
Bri Smith made the leap into third for the most career assists in program history, coming in needing just four to overtake Megan Golovkin (2006-2009). With 40 assists tonight, she now has a four-year total of 2,203.
The senior Chinn and Laton also made respective moves in the career blocks category as both closed in on Sue Maki (1988-1989). Chinn tied Maki for 10th all-time at 199 with her effort tonight and Laton is just one behind with 198 total blocks in her three-year career to date.
Despite the many twists and turns that encompass a five-set thriller, there were only total five lead changes in the match, including three in the second set.
UNA rode its strong serving and a few EC self-inflicted serving miscues to a first-set win, even with a .156 attacking percentage. Conversely, the Tritons carried a .294 clip, but trailed 10-15 after a Caroline Neisler ace.
The Lions held on late for a 25-23 third-set win to pull ahead 2-1 after EC evened things up with a .400 performance in the second set.
But the Tritons staved off elimination and overcame five ties in a pivotal fourth set as Chinn and Laton converged on Natalie Marsh (21 kills) for back-to-back assisted blocks right out of Lions' timeout for a 14-9 lead.
Chinn gave the Tritons a two-point lead in the final frame with a kill and an ace for a quick 6-4 advantage. She then blocked Cara Gregg one-on-one to force UNA to take its last timeout with a 13-10 lead intact.
Eckerd will play host to Florida Southern College tomorrow for Senior Day in the McArthur Center at 4 p.m. The seniors
Hallie Ward, Chinn and Smith, will be honored for their contributions to the program.
