TAMPA, FLA. – Panther Volleyball hit the road tonight as they traveled back to the west coast of Florida. Florida Tech took on the University of Tampa Spartans, who are ranked No. 3 in the nation.
MATCH SEVEN: SSC PLAY
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 0, Tampa Spartans 3
Set Recap: (15-
25), (18-
25), (21-
25)
Records: Florida Tech (4-11, 2-5 SSC)
| Tampa Spartans (15-1, 7-0 SSC)
Location: Bob Martinez Center
| Tampa, Florida
MATCH NOTES:
First Set: Florida Tech Panthers 15, Tampa Spartans 25
- Tampa opened the match with a kill, but the Panthers answered right back with a 3-0 run to take the lead.
- After the Spartans evened the scoreline, both sides began trading points.
- Cordelia Kearns and Elisa Broggio each earned kills in the early going as the score remained close through the first ten points.
- Following an Isabelle Clark kill from the middle, the Spartans erupted for an 8-1 run to pull away in the middle of the first set.
- Cordelia Kearns ended the run with three kills and Brooke Menke picked up a service ace as the Panthers attempted to close the gap.
- Kearns and Clark each added another kill, but Tampa closed out the set to take a 1-0 match lead.
Second Set: Florida Tech Panthers 18, Tampa Spartans 25
- Ayisha Missipo got the Panthers on the board in set two with a big swing from the right side.
- Cordelia Kearns followed Missipo with a kill of her own and Tech gained an early 2-1 lead.
- Both sides began going back and forth, with the Panthers getting two big blocks from Missipo and Clark/Broggio.
- Trailing 12-8 with Tampa threatening to open up a big lead, Elisa Broggio sparked a 3-0 Tech run to pull back within one point.
- The Spartans again looked like they were taking control, but the resilient Panthers fought back again. Down 17-13, Broggio and Clark earned back-to-back kills and the Tech front row forced a Tampa error to get within striking distance once again.
- Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Spartans re-extended the lead and held off a third comeback from Tech to win the second set.
Third Set: Florida Tech Panthers 21, Tampa Spartans 25
- To begin the third set, Cordelia Kearns came out swinging with back-to-back kills.
- Isabelle Clark also picked up two kills as the Panthers earned another early lead at 5-3.
- Following a Tampa point, Clark earned her third kill of the set and after two Spartan errors, the Panthers had their largest lead of the match at 9-5.
- The Spartans worked to pull the set even, but big kills from Missipo, Kearns and Broggio kept the scoreline within one point through the middle of the set.
- With the score tied 17-17, Elisa Broggio and Norah Hany combined for a block to retake the lead.
- Broggio again had a big time kill after the Spartans retook the lead and the third set was knotted up again at 19-19.
- However, the hard effort to force a fourth set from the Panthers fell short as a 6-2 run from the Spartans put the match away.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
UP NEXT: The Panthers will be staying in the greater Tampa Bay area for another match this weekend. Tech will face Florida Southern in Lakeland on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech Volleyball, 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.
SCHOLARS. LEADERS. CHAMPIONS.
