Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's hard to know if the Eckerd volleyball team likes being in five-set matches. It is not, however, hard to determine how effective the Tritons are in those contests.
Eckerd won another five-setter on Friday night in the McArthur Center, rallying to defeat Nova Southeastern (18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 15-10) to stay a half-game back in the Sunshine State Conference standings.
The Tritons (15-7, 7-3 SSC) improved to 6-1 in five-set matches this season and have won their last six. It also finished a season sweep of the Sharks and the second win over NSU in five sets.
It didn't come easily tonight against a Nova Southeastern team that came out hot, pulling away midway through the first set due in part to the hitting of Denvyr Tyler-Palmer and Kerrigan McVicker and in part to errors by the Tritons.
Eckerd bounced back in the second set using a late run to even the match at one set apiece. Trailing 21-20, EC rolled off three straight points to take the lead and eventually won the set on a kill from
Madison Whiting that kept it from going into extra points.
In the third set, NSU built a 13-8 lead but Eckerd fought back with five straight points to tie the set at 13-13. The Sharks, though, answered by taking five points in seven rallies for a three-point lead and the Tritons couldn't recover.
Eckerd again finished strong in set four, taking five of the final seven points to send the match to a decisive fifth set.
Once there, Eckerd did what it usually does.
The Tritons hit a blistering .476 in the final set with 11 kills and only one error, blowing open a close contest with a series of four kills in five rallies for a 13-9 lead.
After a Tyler-Palmer kill briefly broke Eckerd's momentum, an NSU service error followed by a
Kaitlyn Sibson ace closed the set and the win.
"Tonight was a hard-fought win that we are proud to get," said EC head coach
Michelle Piantadosi.
Eckerd is now tied for second in the SSC with Tampa, a half-game back of Saint Leo and a half-game ahead of Florida Southern.
Kali Boatwright led a balanced Triton attack with 14 kills.
Madison Whiting added 13 and
JaQuayla Baker had 12. Boatwright (19 digs) and Whiting (18 digs) also had double-doubles as did
Gabriella Reis with 39 assists and 10 digs.
Eckerd returns to the floor tomorrow hosting No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic at 4:00 PM.
