Daytona Beach, Fla. – Panther volleyball was back in Daytona tonight to wrap up their eight-game road trip to begin the 2026 season. Tech faced off against Lewis University in a thrilling back-and-forth match.
MATCH EIGHT – NON-CONFERENCE
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 1, Lewis Flyers 3
Set Recap: (20-
25), (
25-19), (25-16), (
25-18)
Records: Florida Tech (2-6)
| Lewis (6-3)
Location: ICI Center
| Daytona Beach, Florida
MATCH NOTES:
First Set: Florida Tech 20, Lewis 25
- Cordelia Kearns opened the match with a kill, sparking a 4-1 early lead for the Panthers.
- Lewis battled back to tie the set early and both teams began going back and forth.
- With kills from Isabelle Clark, Ayisha Missipo and Kearns, the scoreline remained tied at 12-12.
- Unfortunately for the Panthers, Lewis used a 7-2 run to take control of the set late. A Flyer attack error and kills from Abby Koenen and Scarlett Kimbrell cut the lead down to three, but Lewis held on to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Second Set: Florida Tech 25, Lewis 19
- After dropping the first set, the Panthers wanted to answer back right away. Clark and Kearns helped Tech open up a 3-0 lead, and the advantage remained at three points at 8-5.
- The Flyers worked to bring the scoreline even, but Kimbrell, Kearns and Missipo used timely kills to never give up the lead.
- Natalie Rhodes and Sophia Schneider kept setting excellent balls to their teammates as the Panthers scored 8 more points off kills.
- With the set tied at 18-18, Tech exploded for a 6-0 run. Starting with a kill from Clark, Tech used more kills from Kearns and a service ace from Elisa Broggio to put away the Flyers and tie the match at 1-1.
Third Set: Florida Tech 16, Lewis 25
- The third set began much like the first two, Tech opened up a small lead before both teams became deadlocked at 5-5.
- Unlike the first two sets, the big run came early as Lewis took the advantage with a 5-1 run.
- Trailing 12-7, a kill from Boggio and four Flyers errors gave the Panthers a shot at getting back into the set, but another run of Lewis points shut down the Tech rally.
- The Panthers got more points off errors but were unable to take back any momentum as Lewis took the third set.
Fourth Set: Florida Tech 18, Lewis 25
- To begin the fourth set, Cordelia Kearns picked up her 15th kill of the match, but it was the Flyers who took the early 6-2 lead.
- A Natalie Rhodes service ace, a kill from Scarlett Kimbrell and two more errors from Lewis tied the set up at 6-6.
- Both sides again traded points as the Panthers looked to retake the lead. However, a 5-0 run from the Flyers had Tech trailing 15-10 before growing to 19-13.
- Another ace from Rhodes and kills from Kearns and Kimbrell attempted to spark a comeback but the deficit was too big to overcome.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
UP NEXT: After eight games on the road to the start, the Panthers will finally return home for the 2026 home opener. Tech will host Nova Southeastern on September 18
th. This match is also the first Aloha Friday match of the season.
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.
