ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After rallying to take the fourth set, the Eckerd volleyball team remained neck-and-neck with Tampa in the early stages of the decisive fifth set. However, the Spartans went on a late run to take the final set as Eckerd ultimately fell at the McArthur Center Tuesday night.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Tampa 3, Eckerd 2 (25-23, 22-25, 18-25, 25-19, 8-15)
Records: Eckerd 16-7 (7-5 SSC); Tampa 17-6 (10-2 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- Eckerd jumped out to an early 4-2 lead before Tampa scored four straight points to take a 6-4 lead. Tampa maintained a slight advantage over the next stretch with Eckerd pulling within one at 19-18 following a three-point run. The Spartans pulled ahead at 23-20 before EC rolled off five consecutive points capped by three straight Asya Harris kills to take the set 25-23.
- UT opened up the second set with five straight points to take an early lead. Eckerd later used a 5-0 scoring run to take an 11-9 lead before Tampa responded with five consecutive points to take a 15-12 advantage. The Tritons fended off the set by rolling off four straight points before UT took the set at 25-22.
- The Spartans took an early advantage with a 7-2 start to the third set and maintained their comfortable lead for the rest of the way. EC battled at set-point with an Anna Jungjohann kill and a Paula Hoffmann ace before UT took the set, 25-18.
- Eckerd opened up the fourth set with four straight points before Tampa evened the score at 4-4. The Tritons then rolled off four consecutive points capped by a Rachel Wisian kill to take a 9-4 lead. Eckerd pulled ahead by six on another Wisian kill at 18-12. EC maintained at least a four-point lead the rest of the way and took the set at 25-19 on an Agata Sklepik kill.
- Tampa opened up the final set with a 4-1 lead before the Tritons rolled off five straight points to take a 5-4 edge. The teams stayed within one point of each other and remained tied at 7-7 before the Spartans went on an 8-1 run to take the match, 15-8.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Sklepik led the Eckerd attack with 18 kills while posting her second double-double in as many games with 15 digs. Harris added 17 kills and Jungjohann posted 11.
- Sydney Case also posted her second consecutive double-double with 58 assists and 12 digs.
- Luana Rezende led the back row with 21 digs while Hoffmann and Dana Dull added 18 and 16, respectively.
- The match was Eckerd's fourth five-set game this season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action Friday with a trip to Embry-Riddle for a 7:00 PM start.
