Dominant Tritons Record Second Straight Sweep

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Perhaps finding their identity in the final weeks of the season, the Eckerd volleyball team posted its second straight sweep in conference play as the Tritons dominated Nova Southeastern on Thursday in the McArthur Center.

The win was Eckerd's third in a row and avenged a four-set loss earlier in the year at Nova Southeastern.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 3, Nova Southeastern 0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20)
Records: Eckerd 15-14 (7-12 SSC); Nova Southeastern 6-24 (4-16 SSC)

KEY MOMENTS

• Two early five-point runs allowed Eckerd to establish a 12-4 lead in the opening set.  The lead soon grew to 10 points before NSU won six points in a seven-rally series to pull within five.  A Paula Hoffmann kill ended the Sharks' momentum, though, as Eckerd closed the set winning seven of the last nine points.
• The Tritons trailed 7-6 in the second set before winning 10 of the next 13 points and taking a 16-10 lead. A Shark sideout did little to slow the Tritons, as EC took five straight points aided by back-to-back Margot Balliet service aces.  Rachel Wisian soon followed with three straight kills to get Eckerd to set point, and an Abbie O'Ferrell kill finished a 25-13 win.
• Nova Southeastern stayed close early in set three before Eckerd again began to pull away. A three-point run and a four-point run pushed EC to a 14-9 lead, but the Sharks quickly pulled back within one at 15-14.  The Tritons forced an attack error and retook control with a six-point lead.  NSU managed to get within three but could not further close the gap.  A Sarah Johnshoy kill gave the Tritons match point for their second straight sweep.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Eckerd hit .337 in the contest, its second-best percentage of the season and highest in conference play.  The Tritons' .536 percent in the second set was their best of the year in a set.
• Hoffmann recorded her ninth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 15 digs.  Lauren Kadilis also posted a double-double of 37 assists and 10 digs.
• O'Ferrell led all attackers with 13 kills. Wisian had nine kills on just 15 attempts and added four blocks.
• Arielle Erillo led the back row with 17 digs.

UP NEXT
The 2018 season comes to an end on Saturday hosting No. 19 Palm Beach Atlantic at 4:00 PM with Senior Day to take place before the first serve.