ST. PETERSBURG – The Eckerd volleyball team delivered a dominant performance Friday evening, sweeping Nova Southeastern in straight sets (25-9, 25-16, 25-16) at the McArthur Center.
The Tritons controlled the match offensively, hitting an impressive .371 while holding the Sharks to a .038 hitting percentage. Eckerd finished with 54 kills compared to just 16 for Nova Southeastern.
Eckerd established control early in the opening set, using a 5-0 run highlighted by two kills from Jaelynn Tunley and one from Hayden Nash to build an 11-4 advantage. The Tritons continued to pull away, extending their lead to 16-7 behind consecutive kills from Tunley and Nash. Leading 17-8, Eckerd erupted for seven unanswered points, all coming on kills, to reach set point. Peyton Walker finished the frame with a kill for the 25-9 victory. The Tritons recorded 22 kills while hitting .475 in the opening set.
The Sharks kept the second set closer early, trimming Eckerd's lead to 9-7. Nash responded with a kill to spark a three-point burst, including a service ace by Jaiden Harris, to push the advantage to 12-7. Nova Southeastern later pulled within three at 15-12, but Harris answered with a kill, followed by a Seiler Hruska ace. The Sharks again narrowed the margin to three at 17-14 before Walker delivered a kill to halt the momentum. Eckerd closed the frame on a 6-1 run, highlighted by kills from Harris, Tunley, Nash, and Hruska, with Nash adding a solo block on set point to secure the 25-16 win.
Eckerd broke open the third set with a commanding 10-0 run, turning a 2-2 tie into a 12-2 advantage. Lilli Weber anchored the surge from the service line, contributing an ace, while Walker registered three kills and Harris added two. The Tritons maintained their double-digit advantage at 15-4 following a block by Walker and Tunley. Nova Southeastern chipped away at the deficit later in the frame, but Eckerd remained comfortably ahead, with Nash delivering a late kill to help seal the 25-16 victory and complete the sweep.
Walker led the Tritons with 14 kills on a .765 hitting percentage, committing just one error on 17 attempts. She also added four blocks. Nash followed with 13 kills while hitting .632, committing just one error on 19 swings.
Hruska and Tunley each contributed nine kills, with Hruska adding two service aces and Tunley collecting 19 digs. Harris chipped in seven kills and an ace. Weber directed the offense with 43 assists and eight digs, while Sydney Williams matched Tunley with a team-high 19 digs. Maggie Turner added 10 digs.
The Tritons have now won three straight matches and will be back in action tomorrow vs. No. 9 Lynn.
