Tritons Take Two at Bahama House Invitational

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After a strong finish to opening weekend one week ago, the Eckerd volleyball team picked up where it left off on the first day of the Bahama House Labor Day Invitational, defeating both Flagler (Fla.) and Oklahoma Baptist.

HOW IT ENDED
Game 1
Final: Eckerd 3, Flagler 1 (25-20, 25-12, 18-25, 25-21) 
Records: Eckerd 3-2, Flagler 1-4

Game 2
Final: Eckerd 3, Oklahoma Baptist 0 (25-21, 25-19, 30-28)
Records: Eckerd 4-2, OBU 3-4

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1

• Eckerd fell behind early, trailing 6-3 and 10-7, but soon tied the set at 11-11. After a series of sideouts, the Tritons took control late running off four straight points to take a 23-19 lead. Flagler broke EC's serve but made a pair of errors on the following two rallies as Eckerd claimed the first set, 25-20.
• The Tritons dominated the second set from the first serve, using a run of six straight points to build a 13-5 lead. Flagler was never able to make a dent in the deficit as Eckerd ran away with a 25-12 win for a 2-0 match lead.
• In the third set, Flagler turned an 8-8 tie into a 14-9 lead and held that lead the rest of the way. Eckerd pulled within three points at 16-13 but got no closer.
• The fourth set remained tight until Eckerd began to pull away and extended its lead to 19-14 after an ace by Arielle Erillo. The Saints answered with four straight points before a block by Sarah Johnshoy and Fernanda Reis broke serve. EC pushed its lead back to four by winning points on four of five rallies, then put the match away on a Hoffmann kill.

Game 2

• Eckerd got off to a fast start in the first set, building a 15-9 lead.  OBU managed to pull back within three points before the Tritons extended the lead back to seven at 23-16. The Bison made it interesting, taking points on four straight rallies and again cutting the deficit to three before a Paula Hoffmann kill closed the set for a 25-21 Triton win.
• A series of six points in seven rallies midway through the second set built a comfortable cushion for Eckerd, leading 22-15 after a kill by Payton Meader. Oklahoma Baptist got no closer than five points the rest of the set as EC took a 2-0 match lead.
• The Tritons were on the verge of finishing the sweep after building a 23-12 lead in the third set, but a series of errors opened the door for the Bison. Eckerd made six errors in a row allowing OBU to pull within five, then four more soon got the Bison within a point after surviving match point on four straight rallies. Eckerd got to match point twice more but OBU held strong both times and reached set point at 27-26. An attack error kept Eckerd alive and the Tritons finally put the match away on a Rachel Wisian kill followed by a Wisian and Fernanda Reis block.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Eckerd's attack was highly efficient in the first two sets against Flagler, hitting .353 and .400 respectively.
• Hoffmann recorded a double-double against Flagler with 16 kills and 11 digs. Johnshoy had 11 kills in the match, her second-highest career total.
• Asya Harris led EC's attack with 12 kills against OBU while Hoffmann and Wisian each had 10.
• Reis averaged 13 assists per set in the two wins.

UP NEXT
Eckerd takes on McKendree (Ill.) on Saturday at 11:00 AM to wrap up play at the Bahama Hose Labor Day Classic.