ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In her final match at the McArthur Center,
Paula Hoffmann led the Eckerd volleyball team in a thrilling five-set comeback win over Rollins Saturday afternoon on senior day.
Hoffmann posted a double-double (10 kills, 19 digs) in the win with nine of her ten kills coming in the final two sets.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 3, Rollins 2 (24-26, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 15-9)
Records: Eckerd 18-9 (9-7 SSC), Rollins 8-19 (3-13 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The teams swapped rallies over the beginning of the match before Eckerd took a slight 9-7 favor. The Tars used a 7-0 run midway through the set to take a 16-10 lead before EC rolled off three straight points to pull within three. Rollins held between a three and four point lead over the next stretch before Eckerd went on a 4-1 run to even the score at 23-23. Rollins took the set at 26-24, following two straight kills.
- The opening of the second set remained tight as neither team was able to generate more than a two-point lead until Eckerd pulled in front at 16-13 on a Rachel Wisian kill. The Tars responded to even the score at 17-17. Eckerd pulled ahead by two at 19-17 on an Asya Harris kill before taking the set 25-21 on a Sarah Johnshoy kill.
- Rollins opened the third set with five straight points before an Anna Jungjohann kill ended the early run. The Tars held a comfortable lead over the next stretch before Eckerd rolled off eight straight points behind the serve of Fernanda Reis to pull ahead 20-19. The teams stayed within one point of each other and remained tied at 22-22 before RC took the set, 25-22, on three straight points.
- EC opened the fourth set with three straight points for an early lead. A Paula Hoffmann kill ignited a five-point run as the Tritons pulled ahead at 14-4. Eckerd continued to hold a comfortable lead over the majority of the set. Rollins managed to pull within three at 24-21 before Eckerd took the set on a Hoffmann kill.
- A Hoffmann kill gave Eckerd an early 4-2 lead in the fifth set before EC utilized a three-point run to go ahead at 7-3. Rollins responded to pull within two at 9-7 before the Tritons went on a 4-1 run to take a 13-8 favor. Eckerd took the match, 15-9, following a Hoffmann kill and a Luana Rezende service ace.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Hoffmann had nine of her ten kills in the fourth and fifth sets while also posting three blocks in the stretch.
- Jungjohann led the Eckerd attack with a career-high 19 kills while Wisian tied her career-high with 15.
- Hoffmann's double-double was the 23rd of her career.
- Rezende led the defense with 23 digs while also posting six services aces.
- Eckerd's two seniors, Paula Hoffmann and Fernanda Reis, were honored before the match.
UP NEXT
Eckerd travels to Lynn next Friday for a 6:00 PM start.
