Spartans Fall to Florida Southern in Five-Set Thriller

LAKELAND, Fla. – Despite taking the opening two sets, the No. 19 University of Tampa volleyball team fell in five-sets to No. 21 Florida Southern College on Tuesday evening at Jenkins Field House.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 21 Florida Southern 3, No. 19 Tampa, 2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-13)
Records: Tampa Spartans (8-4, 2-2 SSC), Florida Southern Mocs (9-3, 3-1 SSC)
Location: Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

Set 1 | Florida Southern and Tampa traded blows in the opening stanza as senior Allee Stelogeannis hit a perfect 4-for-4 to open play. Freshman Taylor Fosler totaled four kills at a scorching .800 clip while picking up a pair of blocks as the Spartans came from behind to earn a 26-24 win in the first set.

Set 2 | Freshman Katie McKiel hit an astounding 5-for-7 in the second frame without an attack error (.714 attack percentage) to lead the Spartans to a 25-22 win. Libero Logan Holanchock added four digs on defense while five service aces from FSC gave Tampa a 2-0 match lead.  Mocs outside hitter Anna Tovo led all players in the second set with six kills as FSC hit .321 as a team.

Set 3 | The Mocs used 12 kills from its pin hitters as Tovo and Nicole Mattson each grounded six kills. FSC libero Brindl Langley totaled nine digs in the set as Florida Southern won the third set 25-19. Setter Jen Aprile posted seven digs for Tampa to go along with six assists as the Spartans were unable to find an offensive groove in the set.

Set 4 | Florida Southern continued its momentum in the fourth, taking the frame by a 25-21 final score. Fosler posted four kills in six swings while adding two blocks to lead for Tampa but the dual threat of Mattson and middle hitter Rachel Mostert provided a match-evening set win.

Set 5 | The Mocs completed the comeback in dramatic 15-13 fashion as the rode Tovo for five kills on 12 swings from the junior outside hitter.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Stelogeannis finished with a team-lead in kills, posting 16 in the five-set thriller. The outside hitter notched her third consecutive double-double effort, adding 10 digs.

• Freshman accounted for 30 of the Spartans 60 total kills. McKiel finished with 13 while Fosler and Nicole Dominguez ended the contest with 11 and six, respectively.

• Libero Holanchock concluded the match with a team-high 19 digs.  Reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Week Langley concluded play with a match-high 24 digs for FSC.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Middle blocker Fosler posted career-highs in kills (11), attack percentage (.579) and blocks (6). The freshman led the match with an errorless 11-for-19.

• For the first time this season, the setting tandem of Aprile and Sammy Mueller each spun a double-double effort in split action. Junior Aprile totaled 26 assists with 11 digs while freshman Mueller dished 24 assists to combine with 14 digs.

• With the five set win, FSC inches closer to the Spartans in the all-time series. Tampa owns the advantage by a 70-58 margin, the closest of any Sunshine State Conference opponent.

UP NEXT:

Tampa will continue on the road with a Thursday, Sept. 29 matchup against Florida Tech slated for a 7 p.m. start. Live stats and a live video webcast will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com. 

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