Tritons Split on Day Two of Nova Southeastern Invitational

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Eckerd College volleyball team came very close to starting the season with an unbeaten weekend at the Nova Southeastern Invitational.

A late rally by Oklahoma Baptist spoiled that, however, in the first match of the day.  The Bison handed Eckerd a 3-2 loss before the Tritons bounced back with a straight-sets win over East Central (Okla.) to go 2-1 on the weekend.

Eckerd twice battled back from behind against OBU (3-0), winning the second and fourth sets to send the match into a fifth set.  Once there, the Tritons got off to a hot start taking the first six points but that lead soon evaporated.  Oklahoma Baptist chipped away and eventually took its first lead of the set at 11-10.  The Tritons would not regain it as the Bison won seven of the last 10 points to stay unbeaten on the season.

For a while, it looked like the momentum from a close win in set four would carry the Tritons to victory.  Eckerd survived OBU serving for match point and took three straight points to even the match thanks to three Bison errors and a set-ending block by Rachel Cornatzer and Katie Arnette.

After dropping the first set, 25-23, EC bounced back to finish set two strong and earn a 25-19 win.  OBU took another close on in set three (25-22), setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Tjasa Kotnik had a huge performance in the loss, racking up 25 kills and 23 digs - both career highs.  Katie Arnette added 10 kills while Kaitlyn Sibson also set a new career high with 29 digs.

Eckerd rebounded nicely from the tough loss to close out the tournament with a dominating sweep of East Central (25-14, 25-17, 25-14).  The Tritons led wire-to-wire in the first and third set, and took control midway through the second set to turn a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead.

The Triton attack proved to be highly efficient for the entire match and the third set in particular, where the team hit .393.  EC posted a .294 attack percentage for the match while committing only 11 attack errors.

Kotnik posted another double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs and was named to the all-tournament team. JaQuayla Baker and Lauryn Nelson each added eight kills.

The Tritons (2-1) return to action on Friday and Saturday at the annual Eckerd College Invitational.  EC plays two matches each day.  For more information on the tournament, visit the EC Invitational webpage.