Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - JaQuayla Baker fought back tears before taking the floor for the final time in the McArthur Center.
She then proceeded to make her last home match one to remember, putting away 12 kills to help lead the Eckerd volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Embry-Riddle on Saturday afternoon on senior day by scores of 25-15, 25-20, and 25-23.
Baker and fellow senior
Katie Arnette (seven kills) closed the book on their McArthur Center appearances in style, avenging a loss to the Eagles on the road earlier this week.
The Tritons (17-12) were, for the most part, dominant in the match. EC used runs of four and five points in the first set to build a 12-7 lead and continued to stay in control on the way to a 10-point set win. Eckerd was highly efficient on the attack, posting 16 kills and hitting .355 in the set.
After Embry-Riddle (13-14) took an early lead in the second set, the Tritons reversed the momentum with points on 10 of 12 rallies including a run of five straight points behind the service of
Arielle Erillo and kills from Arnette,
Kali Boatwright,
Mackenzie Redner and
Stephanie Karlovics.
Another four-point run pushed the EC lead to 22-12 and, after a side-out, kills from Redner and Karlovics put the team at set point. The Eagles responded with seven straight points, however, to get back within four before another Redner kill finished the set.
The Tritons found themselves playing from behind late in the third set after ERAU turned a 10-7 deficit into a 19-16 lead. Eckerd tied the set with three straight points, the last two coming on blocks from Baker and Arnette. After a series of four side-outs, EC put the match away by winning points on five of the final six rallies of the set.
Eckerd had 56 kills in the match and hit .308 for the afternoon, including .366 in the last set.
Redner posted 17 kills for the second day in a row while Baker had 12 and Boatwright added 10.
Gabriella Reis assisted on 40 of EC's 56 kills.
The Tritons wrap up the regular season next week with trips to Rollins on Tuesday and Florida Tech on Thursday. A pair of wins will help solidify Eckerd in the South Region rankings after coming in at No. 7 this week.
