Box Score PALM BAY, Fla. - The Eckerd College volleyball team opened a four-match road swing on Friday night, suffering a 3-1 loss to Florida Tech (17-25, 28-30, 25-18, 22-25) as the teams split the season series.
The Panthers (12-13, 3-10) used a run of five straight points to break a 10-10 tie in the first set, then later rolled off another five consecutive points to build an eight-point lead. Eckerd managed to pull back within five points before FIT closed out the set with two kills from Marilyn Dick and a block from Jenna Schaffer and Alexa Hamm.
Florida Tech jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second set, but Eckerd methodically worked its way back into an 18-18 tie. After a series of exchanged points. the Tritons were first to set point after kills by
JaQuayla Baker and
Tjasa Kotnik put EC up 24-23. The Panthers, though, took the next two points starting off an exciting end to the set that saw a total of five set point serves before FIT finally put it away on another set-ending block from Schaffer and Hamm.
Eckerd (13-12, 4-8) bounced back in the third set, pulling away late by taking points on seven of the last nine rallies.
Lauryn Nelson took over during the stretch with four straight kills before kills by Baker and
Mackenzie Redner finished things off and extended the match.
The fourth set was tight the entire way with four lead changes and 11 ties, the last of which was at 22-22 after back-to-back kills by Redner. But Florida Tech took the next three points, once again closing a set on a double-block, to earn the win.
Kotnik led all players with 21 kills and recorded her fourth straight double-double with 10 digs. Redner and Nelson added 13 and 10 kills, respectively.
Kaitlyn Sibson had 21 digs to surpass 900 for her career.
The Tritons travel to face No. 19 Florida Southern tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
