ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Just selected Most Valuable Player of the Eckerd College Volleyball Classic, even the chosen winner expressed a little surprise when the final votes were tabulated.
But senior libero Hallie Ward was a fitting choice, and after once again doing the little things that are omitted from the final box score at her back-row position, she was the most deserving recipient as her team put forth another undefeated tournament showing.
Ward was honored postgame along with freshman Ali McAlvany and junior Alex Laton as members of the Eckerd Classic All-Tournament Team.
“I had no idea I was going to be selected,” she said sheepishly afterwards. “I thought it was going to be the outside hitter (Tania) Torres from Barry (University).”
The Tritons (6-1, 0-0 SSC) continued their torrid win streak on Saturday to close their own hosted event and made UNC-Pembroke and Millersville University their latest victims, earning a pair of straight-set sweep victories in the McArthur Center.
After handing Palm Beach Atlantic University its first loss of the season on Friday, the Tritons held a near wire-to-wire lead against the Braves (3-4, 0-0 PBC) and showed resilience in taking down the Marauders (4-5, 0-0 PSAC) in the nightcap.
“We're playing very well right now as a team,” added Ward. “The key is having every component working together and being mentally tough. It's extra motivation to keep working hard at every practice.”
McAlvany (12) and Laton (9) combined for 21 of Eckerd's 46 kills against the Marauders, who wouldn't go away in a back-and-forth second set that featured 13 ties before the Tritons ended the frame on a 5-0 run.
The Tritons would refuse to face the same trouble in the third set against Millersville and led the entire way to close out the Marauders.
Ward recorded 15 digs, Bri Smith and Madison Burr collaborated on 42 of the team's 43 assists and Eckerd totaled seven team blocks in holding Millersville to a .128 hitting percentage.
The Marauders were led by all-tournament pick Katie Lesinski and her nine kills.
Unforced errors plagued UNC-Pembroke in the earlier matchup and a balanced offensive attack paced the Tritons to a .345 attacking clip.
Laton hammered down a team-high nine kills and the opening points on the first and second sets were the only deficits Eckerd would face against the Braves.
The Tritons manufactured a 6-0 run to pull away in the first set, put together separate 7-0 runs in the second set and finished strong with an 8-1 run in the final frame.
Eckerd will now transition into Sunshine State Conference play amidst a three-match homestand, hosting Florida Tech on Wednesday evening. The match will get underway at 7 p.m.
Eckerd College Classic Day One Results
Palm Beach Atlantic University def. UNC-Pembroke, 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-20)
Barry University def. Millersville University, 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 25-18)
Eckerd College def. Palm Beach Atlantic University, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 17-25, 15-13)
UNC-Pembroke def. Millersville University, 3-1 (22-25, 27-25, 25-15, 25-13)
Eckerd College Classic Day Two Results
Barry University def. UNC-Pembroke, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 31-29, 25-23)
Palm Beach Atlantic University def. Millersville University, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-16)
Eckerd College def. UNC-Pembroke, 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-14)
Eckerd College def. Millersville University, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18)
Eckerd College Classic All-Tournament Team
Ali McAlvany - Eckerd College
Alex Laton - Eckerd College
Hallie Ward - Eckerd College (*MVP*)
Maria Quesada - Palm Beach Atlantic University
Becca Acevedo - Palm Beach Atlantic University
Tania Torres - Barry University
Katie Lesinski - Millersville University
Rebecca Morgan - UNC-Pembroke
