MELBOURNE, Fla. (Volleyball) - On Tuesday night, Florida Tech (8-10, SSC 3-9) celebrated senior night in thrilling fashion, as the Panthers overpowered Rollins College (8-11, SSC 5-7) in three sets at the Clemente Center.

Prior to the match, FIT honored senior setter Nicole Fortuna and senior middle blocker Samantha Reeves. Including tonights performance, Fortuna has counted 3 kills, 44 assists, 220 digs and 37 service aces over 37 matches played during her two years as a Panther. Playing all four years while in attendance at FIT, Reeves has amassed 277 kills on a .165 hitting percentage, 23 assists, 67 digs and 150 blocks in 80 games played.

Florida Tech was well balanced offensively all night, notching 46 kills for a .246 hitting percentage as a team. Defensively, FIT recorded 10 blocks and held the Tars to a cumulative .075 hitting percentage.

Coming back from a week long absence, outside hitter Kelly Germain brought the heat on the hardwood with 16 kills and a match-best .452 clip. Also pitching in, right side hitter Tania Kottke tallied nine kills for a .286 hitting percentage, while middle blocker Olivia Hersey added eight kills to hit .333 in the night outing.

Junior setter Kiersten Rosa notched her eighth double-double of the season, collecting 36 assists and 10 digs to go with three kills and two service aces. In the back row, defensive specialist Kyra Atkinson crossed the 300 dig-mark, tallying 20 to increase her seasonal total to 336.

Starting the match, FIT jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set. A lead that was a culmination of an eight-point run, which allowed the Panthers to further the Tars deficit, 22-16. Wrapping things up, two Rollins errors gave Florida Tech back-to-back points to close set one, 25-19.

Thriving off a dominating first set, it was all FIT in Set 2. The Panthers notched a four-point streak to motor past the Tars 5-1. From there, FIT never looked back, as the Crimson and Gray allowed Rollins to only score six points, limiting the Winter Park lineup to a .023 hitting percentage to take the set, 25-15.

Returning from intermission, Rollins hung with the Panthers in the beginning of the set, leading 11-8 down the stretch. However, FIT tallied three back-to-back points to tie the score at 11-11. Neither team led by more than two, until a kill from Kottke and a service ace by Rosa gave FIT a 19-15 edge on the Tars. Mastering the offense with a match-high .414 clip, FIT closed on the set, 25-19, with kills from Kottke and Germain.

Heading to Ft. Lauderdale next, the Panthers face off against the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Friday, Oct. 27. First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET.

For more info, fans can visit FloridaTechSports.com!