#1 Spartans Defeat SSC Foe Barry

TAMPA, Fla. - The top-ranked University of Tampa volleyball team capitalized on a rounded effort to defeat visiting Barry University by a score of 3-0. The Spartans are now 19-1 overall and 8-0 in the Sunshine State Conference as they completed its first part of the conference season undefeated. Barry drops to 9-14 and 2-6 in league play.

The first game remained close, with Barry holding a 17-14 lead before UT changed the momentum. Following a hitting error by Barry's Camilla Pagnan, Tampa then became energized on a block solo by Sam Macks in her first career start. The Spartans finished the game with seven consecutive points to win 30-20.

Tampa got out to a big lead in game two, which proved to be too much for the Buccaneers to overcome. Leading 18-9, the Spartans allowed Barry to get back into the game as the Bucs went on a 10-5 run. With Tampa leading 26-25, the Spartans took four of the next six points to win 30-27.

The third game was a seesaw battle between the two teams that saw its final tie at 18-18. Tampa was able to close out the match as it then went on a 12-3 run to win 30-21.

Katelen Dixon led the Spartan offense with a team-high 16 kills. She also registered a .455 hitting percentage and nine digs. Danielle MacDonald contributed 13 kills as Melissa Vanderhall had 10 kills and 10 digs in her second career double-double.

Margeaux Sinibaldi led UT with 13 digs as she now needs just 36 to reach the 2,000 dig plateau. The Spartans finished the night with just two blocks as Barry had three. UT also outhit the Bucs .361 to .198.

Tampa returns to action on Friday as it hosts North Alabama at 7 p.m. The game will be featured as a CSTV national webcast.