#4 Tampa Remains Undefeated With Pair of Victories

LAKELAND, Fla. - The number-four University of Tampa (9-0) volleyball team continued its early-season success with a pair of victory at the South Region Crossover. After defeating #17 West Florida by a 3-2 score, UT finished the day with a 3-1 win over West Georgia. Both matches were victories over South Region opponents.

Against West Florida, Tampa won the first set by a 25-20 score before dropping the next two by scores of 25-23 and 25-19. UT rebounded to take set four 25-22. In the fifth set, Tampa scored seven of the last eight points to secure the 15-9 victory in the deciding set.

With the third 9-8 in favor of Tampa, UT's Melissa Vanderhall turned the tide of the match as she blocked West Florida's Luciana Rapach to seize the momentum for her squad. The Spartans went on to win the next five points and eventually the set.

Danielle MacDonald led Tampa's offense with 17 kills to go with a .432 hitting percentage. Vanderhall added 12 kills, 14 digs, three service aces and two solo blocks while Annalea Warren posted 10 kills. Gabriela Saade led UT with 38 assists as Meghan Sherman tallied 16.

Freshman Julie Howlett turned in her second straight double figure dig effort as she led the team with 14. Saade also had 10. Sam Macks led Tampa with three blocks while Warren and Eileen Bien-Aime had two apiece.

While hitting .298, UT edged UWF as the Argonauts came in at .276. Tampa did outpace West Florida in service aces (8-4) and blocks (8-3) while creating three less attack errors.

In the West Georgia match, Tampa the first set handedly by a score of 25-16. After winning the second set by a slimmer 25-22 result, the Spartans faced a tougher West Georgia defense in the third set. With their backs against the wall, the Wolves recorded a 25-20 third set victory. Freshmen Eva Dupay and Eileen Bien-Aime came through for UT in the fourth set, registering four and three kills respectively, to give UT a 25-21 win to clinch the match.

Vanderhall led Tampa in kills with 14 as she was the lone Spartan to record double figures. She also contributed two service aces and a solo block for Tampa.

Gabriela Saade had a team-high 33 assists while Cunningham added eight kills and a team-leading three service aces. Cunningham also had eight digs, sharing team honors with Dupay and Camila Saade. Sherman led the team with three blocks.

The Spartans return to Lakeland on Wednesday as it faces #7 Florida Southern in the Sunshine State Conference opener. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.