Spartans To Face Sailfish in Top-25 Clash

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 2 University of Tampa volleyball team will face the No. 17 Palm Beach Atlantic University, Saturday for a regional showdown in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center at 4 p.m.

The matinee features the 10-3 Spartans meeting the Sailfish, who enter the top-25 matchup with a seven game win-streak and a 10-2 overall record.

Tampa ended Barry University's winning ways on Thursday, defeating the Buccaneers in consecutive sets to improve to a perfect 4-0 in Sunshine State Conference play while extending its program-record SSC mark of 56 straight victories dating back to Oct. 2011.

Senior Berkley Whaley turned a double-double against the Bucs, notching 11 kills and 13 digs in the 3-0 win. Middle blocker Jessica Wagner downed 11 kills to her credit, hitting .550 (11-for-20) without committing an attack error. Junior outside hitter Allee Stelogeannis added her own 11-kill performance as the trio roughed-up Barry in SSC action.

Outside hitter Whaley leads the team in kills, terminating 192 kills through 13 matches this season. The 2014 AVCA National Player of the Year is averaging 4.17 kills per set, which ranks second in the SSC and 20th in the nation. Senior Wagner is first in the conference in attack percentage, converting at a .412 clip while being ranked 16th in the nation.

Palm Beach Atlantic is fresh off a 3-0 sweep of their own, downing Nova Southeastern on Tuesday night on the road. Senior Faith Rohn posted 14 kills for the team-lead, adding six digs and block for the Sailfish. Right side Stephany Brown stopped six Shark attacks at the net while contributing three kills for PBA.

Sailfish outside hitter Rohn ranks first on the squad in kills, totaling 146 through 12 matches. Her sister and PBA right side Ally Rohn is second with 114 kills, adding 214 assists, 121 digs and 16 service aces for the Sailfish as the teams most versatile weapon.

UT owns the all-time series record against Palm Beach Atlantic, holding a perfect 7-0 record. The two teams last met in the 2014 NCAA South Region Final as Tampa used a 3-1 win to catapult into the NCAA Elite Eight and set the tone for its second National Championship crown. Right side hitter Marissa Lisenbee swatted a career-best 19 kills in that contest, hitting at a torrid .444 clip to end the PBA season.

Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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