WINTER PARK, FLA.- Florida Tech began action at the Rollins College Invitational on Friday by splitting two matches. The Panthers dropped the opener to Mississippi College in four games before bouncing back to sweep Belmont Abbey.
 
GAME ONE:

Final: Mississippi College 3, Florida Tech 1
Records: Florida Tech (2-3, 0-0 SSC), Mississippi College (5-0, 0-0 GSC)
Location:  Harold & Ted Alfond Sports Center | Winter Park, Fla.  
 
 
STATS OF THE MATCH:

• The Panthers came out strong against the Choctaws, going on a 7-2 run to start set one.
• The Choctaws then battled back and tied the set 15-15.
• The two teams traded points from there until the Choctaws did just enough to take the set, 25-23.
• Neither team could pull away in the second set until Tech went on an 8-2 run to close it, 25-22.
• Mississippi set the tone early in the third set by opening with an 8-2 spurt, never letting their lead get smaller than two and ultimately pulling away, 25-20.
• The Choctaws would start the fourth set on a tear as well by opening with a 10-3 lead.
• The MC lead would expand to as many as 10 points and the Panthers could only cut the deficit to four as the Choctaws took the set, 25-21, and with it, the match.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Devyn Glassgold anchored the Panther attack with 10 kills along with four blocks.
• Kari Bogen recorded 18 digs for Tech's defense.
• This was the fourth all-time meeting between the teams and the first since a neutral site meeting in Orlando on October 20, 2018. Florida Tech had won the first three matchups. 

 
GAME TWO:
 
Final: Florida Tech 3, Belmont Abbey 0
Records: Florida Tech (3-3, 0-0 SSC), Belmont Abbey (0-6, 0-0 CC)
Location:  Harold & Ted Alfond Sports Center | Winter Park, Fla.  
 
 
STATS OF THE MATCH:

• Tech started strong in all three sets in their second game of the day, opening with leads of 14-5, 13-7, and 15-9 respectively.
• The Panthers held off a valiant comeback attempt from the Crusaders in the first set.
• The Crimson and Gray served for set point at 24-18 and needed an attack error to secure the 25-23 victory.
• The second set would be far less dramatic as the Panthers closed the frame on an 11-3 run to take it, 25-13.
• Despite the Crusaders' best attempts to keep the set and match alive, Victoria Bowrosen's kill secured Tech their third victory of the season.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Katie Erdmann led the Panthers with 14 kills.
• Kenzie Delacher posted a combined 60 assists on the day.
• Bogen totaled 26 digs between the two games. She also recorded four aces against Belmont Abbey.
• This was the second all-time meeting between the two teams. The first of which was also a straight-set win for Tech at a neutral site, Fort Lauderdale, on September 13, 2019.

 
UP NEXT:
 
The Panthers will conclude their appearance in the Rollins College Invitational tomorrow with a matchup against Spring Hill at 10 A.M. and the University of Charleston at 3 P.M.
 
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