ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd volleyball team opened the season with a pair of victories at the annual Eckerd Classic at the McArthur Center on Friday, taking a straight sets win in the afternoon over Emory & Henry (Va.). The Tritons rallied after dropping the opening set in the nightcap to win 3-1 over Adelphi (NY).
The Tritons rallied in the opening set of game one. After trailing 11-8, Eckerd called a timeout, responded to pull within a point, and capped the set on a 10-3 run to win one 25-21. EC used an early 7-1 run to distance themselves from the Wasps in set two before winning 25-17 with a .375 hitting percentage in the frame. The Tritons cruised in the finale, 25-14.
Eckerd jumped ahead to a slight lead in the opening frame against Adelphi and held an 18-17 lead late. However, the Panthers rallied to take the opener 25-19. Eckerd responded in the second set with an 11-6 edge. The Tritons stayed in front to take the second set, 25-18. EC and AU swapped points midway through the third set before the Tritons ended the frame on an 8-3 run to win 25-19. EC used a 9-2 stretch midway through the finale to set the match, 25-19.
HOW IT ENDED
Game One
FINAL: Eckerd 3, Emory & Henry 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14)
Game Two
FINAL: Eckerd 3, Adelphi 1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19)
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-0, Emory & Henry 0-2, Adelphi 0-2
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Kinga Michalska led Eckerd with a double-double in the opener with 12 kills and 11 digs. She also added four aces and a .308 hitting percentage.
- Nyla Muskovin also added double-digit kills versus the Wasps with 10, while hitting at a .400 percent clip.
- Gabi Jedrzejczak nearly added a double-double against EHC with 30 assists and nine digs. She added a career-high 43 assists, six digs, and three kills in the finale.
- Three Tritons were in double-figure kills in the second match: Michalska (14), Muskovin (13), and Stella Antypa (12). Antypa added a double-double with 17 digs as well.
- Muskovin (.400) and Michalska (.520) were efficient in the second match, hitting over .300 percent each.
- Hayden Nash added a career-high eight kills in the finale.
- Sidney Knowles added 12 digs in each contest.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center for the final day of the Eckerd Classic, playing No. 3 Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday at 12:00 PM.
