MELBOURNE, FLA. – Florida Tech hosted Eckerd for the pair's second matchup against each other this season, Saturday evening at the Clemente Center, which saw the Triton defeat Tech in three straights. Ashley Rants and Cordelia Kearns led the Panthers with 11 kills each.

FINAL: Florida Tech , (RV) Eckerd
Records: Florida Tech (8-15, 2-10 SSC), Eckerd (20-3, 10-3 SSC)
Locations: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.

STATS OF THE MATCH:

First Set:

• The Panthers and Tritons started out the first set tied through the first 16 points, tied 8-8.
• Lexie Lueger and Ashley Rants both recorded two kills each to highlight Tech's early offense.
• An ace from Eckerd Aleksa Curta put the Tritons ahead by four, 12-8.
• Kelly Merz's service ace managed to bring the Panthers back to within two points, as Tech still trailed 14-12.
• Eckerd was able to extend its lead to five, leading 20-15, backed by two kills from Erin Garr.
• A comeback by the Panthers saw them down by just three at 22-19 following back-to-back kills from Chiara Patelli.
• The Tritons managed to make it to set point ahead 24-22 as a kill from Kalli Schoening allowed the Tritons to win the first set 25-22 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

 
Second Set:

• Tech managed to pull out to a 3-2 early in the second only for the Tritons to respond with four points in a row to take a 6-4 lead.
• The Panthers would trail by three down 10-7, before another five points by Eckerd pushed them ahead 15-7, highlighted by two kills from Erin Garr.
• As the Crimson and Gray trailed 18-9, they didn't give up, managing to make a comeback to bring the set back to 22-20.
• The comeback effort came thanks to two kills each from Antia Vallecas Rodriguez, Ashley Rants, and Cordelia Kearns.
• Still behind 23-20, Tech scored three straight points to tie the set 23 all, outscoring the Tritons 14-5 in the run.
• Chiara Patelli and Rants each recorded a kill in the comeback.
• Seiler Hruska finished off the set for Eckerd by recording kills on the final two points to give the Tritons and 25-23 second set win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

 
Third Set:  

• A 5-1 run by Tech was how the start of the third got underway before the Tritons tied it up at 7-7.
• Back-to-back kills from Lueger and Rants saw the Panthers take an 11-9 lead before five unanswered kills by Eckerd saw the Tritons pull ahead 14-11, highlighted by two kills from Hruska.
• Kills from Lueger and Cordelia Kearns helped tie the set again at 14-14 until a 5-1 run by Eckerd put them ahead 19-15.
• Tech was not going down without a fight though regaining the lead 20-19. In the run, Kearns tallied two kills with Kelly Merz serving up two service aces.
• Six straight points for the Tritons though saw them take the third set 25-20 and win the match 3-0.

 
 
NOTABLE PANTHERS

• Cordelia Kearns was Tech point leader, recording 12 points from 11 kills and two block assists.
• Ashley Rants finished the match with a season-best 11 points from 11 kills.
• Kenzie Delacher finished the set with her ninth double-double of the season with 17 assists and 12 digs.
• Courtney Capar recorded a team-high 20 digs in the match.
• Kelly Merz's three services aces tied her career best.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Eckerd leads the series record against Tech 37-24 since 1993.
• The Triton has now won the previous 13 meetings, including the last 10 matches being in three straight sets.
• Tech is now 15-15 at home vs. Eckerd since 1993.

 
UP NEXT:
The Panthers will be back at home to end their three-game home stand on Halloween night when they host Embry-Riddle at 7:00 P.M. at the Clemente Center.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the Florida Tech volleyball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.