ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.- The Eckerd volleyball team won a pair of matches over Belmont Abbey (Ill.) and host Flagler (Fla.) on the second day of the Flagler Invitational. Eckerd swept the Crusaders in the afternoon before coming from behind in a five sets victory over the Saints Saturday night.
Against the Crusaders, Eckerd took control from the start in the opening set, cruising to a 25-12 victory. The Tritons used an 8-0 run midway through the second set to distance themselves before taking the set 25-16. EC breezed to a 25-17 win in the final set.
In the finale, EC used an 11-4 run to push away late and take the first set 25-18. Flagler took control early in the second set and cruised to take it at 25-13. The third and fourth sets echoed each other as the two teams remained within three points of each other as Flagler took the third set on four straight points (25-23), and the Tritons took the fourth set on a 4-0 run as well (25-22).
EC jumped ahead early in the final set before the Saints evened the score at 7-7. The Tritons followed with a 5-1 run to distance themselves before taking the set 15-11.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: Eckerd 3, Belmont Abbey 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-17)
Game Two
FINAL: Eckerd 3, Flagler 2 (25-18, 13-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11)
RECORDS: Eckerd (3-1), Belmont Abbey (0-4), Flagler (2-2)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Eckerd's offense was productive once again. After hitting .461 in yesterday's opening match, they hit .317 in today's opening match.
- EC committed just eight errors compared to Belmont Abbey's 27.
- Joelle Coulter logged two double-doubles on the day with 10 kills, 12 digs against the Crusaders, and 14 kills, 13 digs against the Saints.
- Ranya Mehta hit .900 in the opening match with nine kills on 10 swings. She led the attack in the second match with a career-high 22 kills. She ended the day with 31 kills while hitting .453.
- For the four-game tournament, Mehta totaled 46 kills (3.54 per set) while hitting .405.
- Krysten Garrison nearly posted a triple-double for the second day in a row. She finished the second match with nine kills, 43 assists, and 12 digs.
- Daniella Russo-Lolas also posted a double-double in the finale with 24 digs and 12 assists. She also recorded three aces.
- Rachel Wisian added double-digit kills as well, with 10 in the finale.
- Eckerd ends the Flagler Invitational with a 3-1 record.
- Eckerd's matchup with Belmont Abbey was the first between the two programs.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action next weekend at the VSU Volleyball Classic in Georgia. They face Valdosta State (Ga.) Friday at 1:00 PM and UNC Pembroke at 7:00 PM.
