Volleyball Set to Host Rematch Against Lynn
Tampa owes its lone conference loss to the Fighting Knights as the Spartans will look to earn its revenge from the defeat earlier in the season.
TAMPA, Fla. – A week removed from claiming its 11th consecutive Sunshine State Conference championship, the No. 6 University of Tampa volleyball team is set to host Lynn University in a Thursday night grudge-match at 7 p.m. in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.
The Spartans hold a 24-5 overall record with a 13-1 tally in SSC action while the visiting Fighting Knights enter the match with a 14-14 record and a 4-11 conference mark.
UT ravaged then-No. 17 Florida Southern College in a 3-0 sweep behind a dominating effort from senior Jessica Wagner. The middle blocker delivered an errorless 13-kill salvo at a scorching .765 attack percentage. Outside hitter Berkley Whaley led the defense with 14 digs en route to her third SSC Defensive Player of the Week award, leading the Spartans to a 2-0 week with her stellar back row presence.
Lynn fell 3-1 to Eckerd College in its last matchup, as the torrid play of the Tritons was too much for the Fighting Knights. Middle blocker Lydia West posted 12 kills for Lynn, adding a pair of blocks while libero Katie Knight picked up 15 digs. Eckerd hit an astounding .374 as a team to roll through the Lynn defense.
In the last meeting between the two squads, the Fighting Knights shocked the Spartans on the road to earn the program's first-ever win over Tampa in its years of competition. Outside hitter Cristina Llorens led the Blue and White with 14 kills and four service aces while middle blocker Claire Angelich hit an even .500 with 11 kills and four service aces to her credit. UT hit .304 as a team but the difference proved to be the tough serve of Lynn as Tampa fell in five sets.
The Spartans own the all time series record by an astounding 37-1 margin with the lone loss coming this season on the road.
Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.
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