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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Hit the rewind button a year ago and the McArthur Center gym was near full capacity with the decibel level maxed out when then-No. 1 University of Tampa came to town to face the Eckerd College volleyball program.
Behind a raucous and spirited home crowd, the Tritons handed the Spartans their first loss of the season and recorded the first win over UT in school history in a five-set thriller.
Tears of joy were shed and the fans rushed the court to join in the celebration as the Tritons emerged with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-13, victory after senior
Olivia Fraser spiked down the final point.
Eckerd would like to replicate the atmosphere from last year and with first place on the line in the Sunshine State Conference standings, the Tritons (11-6, 5-1 SSC) are calling out to all fans for another “White Out Wednesday.”
For the 7 p.m. start between EC and UT tomorrow night, free white t-shirts will be handed out to the first 250 fans that walk through the doors.
One of the former student-athletes who reveled in the lasting memory from the 2011 campaign is prolific setter and current assistant coach
Bri Smith, who vividly remembers the crowd's impact.
“The energy of our fans was exhilarating,” Smith recalls. “In a match that featured so many twists and turns, it was like having that seventh player on the court with us. As a team, we fed off their enthusiasm and we want the gym to be loud again tomorrow night.”
The Tritons are hitting their stride in league play, coming off respective sweeps on the road against Nova Southeastern University and Lynn University.
Eckerd is ranked 1-2 in kills per set in the SSC behind sophomore
Ali McAlvany (3.88) in first and junior AVCA All-American and First Team All-SSC pick
Lindsay Biggs (3.33) is close behind.
Tampa and Eckerd are ranked first and second in the conference in blocks, respectively.
Led by AVCA All-American and reigning SSC Player of the Year Danielle Selkridge, the Spartans have fashioned together a 13-2 overall record. UT has only lost against then-No. 10 University of Indianapolis and No. 14 West Texas A&M University.
Selkridge ranks first in the SSC in hitting percentage at a .410 clip and Meagan Burks trails closely in third at a .377 rate.
Live stats and live video/audio will also be streamed for the match.
