The Tritons had another strong following in their corner at the Martinez Center, traveling a strong contingent of fans, students and staff/faculty, who made their presence felt with support from the stands.
Senior
Taylor Whaley closed the final chapter of her career with 14 kills and a number of uncharted hustle plays. Another senior,
Alex Laton, finished with 10 kills and four blocks, and fellow four-year member
Olivia Fraser chipped in nine kills and three blocks.
As the match progressed deeper between EC and FSC, it became apparent the margin for error grew slimmer with each sideout. It was a match that could have gone either way, but in the end, the Mocs (22-11 overall) managed to keep their season alive and advance into the regional semis against top seed/host University of Tampa.
The Tritons ended their 2012 campaign with an overall record of 21-10.
With 64 teams in the national field to begin the day, the dominos began to fall in previous regional quarterfinal matchups.
Third-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic University ended the season of No. 6 Rollins College while seventh-seeded Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University served an upset special over No. 2 University of West Florida.
With the Tritons and Mocs each boasting a handful of all-conference performers, recent history foretold another climactic match between Eckerd and Florida Southern would go down to the wire.
A slow start out of the gates resulted in a 7-0 run by the Mocs to begin the postseason affair. The Tritons stormed all the way back and converted their first chance at set point as a blocking error by FSC completed the impressive rally for the early one-set lead.
The second set slipped from Eckerd's grasp after a 23-21 advantage turned into heartbreak following a string of four unanswered Florida Southern points.
EC was leading 20-16 before the frame was eventually tied on a service ace by Mocs' first team All-SSC setter Ali Skayhan at 21-21.
SSC Newcomer and Freshman of the Year Kayshia Brady capitalized on an overpass as part of her 18 kills to tie the match at 20-20 late in the third set. The Eckerd lead was restored on the next serve and junior Biggs brought the hammer for a 22-20 edge.
Biggs finished the night with 15 kills while sophomore outside
Ali McAlvany led EC with 17 on the night.
Another 23-21 EC lead nearly disappeared in the third set late, but Whaley helped seal a 2-1 edge with a kill by the far post.
The fourth set was filled with dramatics as the Tritons looked to close out the win, but the Mocs forged through multiple set-point opportunities to stave off elimination and force the fifth and final set.
A lucky bounce from an FSC dig landed in the corner for a Moc kill in the fifth set for a 12-10 visitor lead, indicative of the momentum gathered down the stretch. The Tritons opened the final frame up 4-1, but fell behind for good following a 9-2 Florida Southern run.
