#5 Tampa Set For Three Match Homestand, Senior Night

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 5 University of Tampa volleyball team will host three NCAA South Region opponents, including two from the Sunshine State Conference as it continues its quest to win its seventh straight league crown.

Tampa begins play on Thursday against the University of North Alabama at 7 p.m., followed by Friday's matchup versus Nova Southeastern University that will include Senior Day festivities prior to the 7 p.m., contest. The Spartans will then play its third match in as many days in a 4 p.m., Saturday meeting with Florida Tech.

A victory in both SSC matches will allow Tampa to clinch at least a share of the 2011 SSC crown, as it enters the weekend with a one-match lead over second-place Eckerd College. Both teams have three conference matches remaining.

Among the five seniors who will be honored on Friday are Eva Dupay, Camille Hanks, Julie Howlett, Janae Nelson and Brianne Yeates. Each of the seniors are four-year letterwinners for UT who have already won three SSC titles and two NCAA South Regionals and a national finals appearance to go with a 114-13 record as Spartans.

UNA is a member of the Gulf South Conference and remains in contention for an NCAA berth. The Lions own a record of 22-6 while currently riding a four-match win streak. Nova Southeastern and Florida Tech are at the bottom of the SSC standings, with respective records of 7-18 and 6-21.

Tampa will offer live stats and a webcast for each contest through www.tampaspartans.tv.

Fans may also follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.