Barry Bounces Tritons from Third Place in SSC

Box Score MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The climb back to the top of the Sunshine State Conference standings got a little steeper tonight for the Eckerd volleyball team following a 3-1 loss at Barry University.

The Tritons (15-10, 7-5 SSC) found themselves in an early 2-0 hole after dropping the first set, 25-21, and the second set, 25-14.

Eckerd rebounded to take the third set by a comfortable 25-16 margin, but the momentum didn't carry over to the fourth as the Buccaneers cruised to a 25-15 win to close the match.

The two teams swapped points for much of the first set, which was tied 12 times.  A service ace by Kaitlyn Sibson created the last tie at 16-16 before the Bucs built a bit of a cushion on the heels of three straight points.  The Tritons pulled back within a point on two occasions but could not force another tie, and Barry took four of the final five points of the set for a 1-0 match lead.

Eckerd fell behind early in the second set and never recovered as Barry raced out to an 11-4 lead, then rolled off five consecutive points to push its advantage to 16-6.  Attack errors damaged EC's chances in the set, committing 10 and hitting -.071 during the frame, while Barry committed only two attack miscues.

The extended break seemed to be what the Tritons needed as the team won the first five points of the third set behind JaQuayla Baker and Lauryn Nelson.  The lead later grew to eight (18-10) before Barry was able to get back within five points.  Eckerd, though, closed the door and forced a fourth set by winning points on five of the last six rallies.

Barry, however, put together a run of seven straight points to open the fourth set, and later used another seven-point run to essentially clinch the match.

Baker was the only Triton to reach double digits in kills, recording 13 on the night, while Mackenzie Redner added eight.  Gabriella Reis assisted on 26 of EC's 47 kills.  Kaitlyn Sibson led the back row with 21 digs.

The loss drops Eckerd into a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings with Florida Southern and Lynn.  Barry (14-9, 6-4 SSC) jumped ahead of Eckerd into third place with its win tonight.

The Tritons finish the weekend road trip tomorrow with a 4:00 PM contest at Lynn.