Florida Tech Panthers

Pueblo, Colo. – Florida Tech Volleyball wrapped up the Royce Cappis Invitational today with a doubleheader. The Panthers took on Fort Lewis and Minnesota Duluth in their final two matches in Colorado.

MATCH SIX: NON-CONFERENCE
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 1, Fort Lewis Skyhawks 3
Set Recap: (25-22), (18-25), (10-25), (19-25)
Records: Florida Tech (2-4) | Fort Lewis (4-3)
Location: Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colorado

MATCH NOTES:
First Set: Florida Tech 25, Fort Lewis 22

• To begin the first match of the day, both teams traded the first ten points as the scoreline was tied at 5-5.
• Cordelia Kearns had three kills in the first five points for the Panthers, with Aly Dennison earning her first collegiate solo block and Hanna Schnieder adding an ace.
• The Skyhawks took the set's first multi-point lead with a 4-0 run, but Kearns quickly put an end to the run with her fourth kill.
• However, Fort Lewis answered with another unanswered run to lead 14-7.
• Multiple Skyhawk attack errors and kills from Kearns and Tessa Schutter cut into the deficit, but Tech still found themselves down 15-12 at the midway point.
• The Panthers got a block from Schutter and Scarlett Kimbrell, more attack errors from Fort Lewis and kills from Kearns to continue their run.
• An ace from Brooke Menke tied the set at 19-19 and a solo block from Kearns gave the Panthers their first lead in the set.
• Another pair of kills from Kearns and another from Schutter officially completed the comeback as Tech took the first set.

Second Set: Florida Tech 18, Fort Lewis 25

• Despite Tech winning the first two points of the second set, the Skyhawks used a 6-0 run to take the early lead.
• Florida Tech battled back with kills from Isabelle Clark and Cordelia Kearns.
• Trailing 10-6, Tech sparked a 4-1 run with more kills from Kearns and a block from Zeynep Turkurkor and Scarlett Kimbrell.
• With the scoreline 12-10 Fort Lewis, Cordelia Kearns picked up her 10^th kill of the game, giving her 1,431 for her Florida Tech career and breaking the all-time program record for kills in a career.
• While both teams traded points, the Skyhawks used a 6-2 run late in the set to regain their advantage and close out the second set.

Third Set: Florida Tech 10, Fort Lewis 25

• The third set began with both sides going back and forth. However, this did not last long as the Skyhawks took full control of the set.
• After the scoreline was tied 5-5, Fort Lewis went on a 4-0 run before a Clark kill got the Panthers back on the board.
• Fort Lewis then exploded for a 9-0 run to grow their lead to 18-6.
• Scarlett Kimbrell picked a kill but the Skyhawks went on to win the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Fourth Set: Florida Tech 19, Fort Lewis 25

• The fourth set began like the previous set, both teams trading points out he gate until Fort Lewis earned the first multi-point lead at 7-5.
• Tech worked to tie the set at 10-10 with kills from Kearns and Kimbrell plus an ace from McCoy Phister.
• After the Skyhawks took back the lead, the Panthers responded with a 6-0 run led by three aces from Isabelle Clark.
• Unfortunately for the Panthers, after leading 16-12, Fort Lewis retook control with a 13-3 run to stun Florida Tech and win the match.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Cordelia Kearns – 20 Kills (Broke Program Record for Career Kills, 1,431)
• Tessa Schutter – 6 Kills (Career High), 1 Block

MATCH SEVEN: NON-CONFERENCE
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 0, RV Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs 3
Set Recap: (12-25), (15-25), (17-25)
Records: Florida Tech (2-5) | Minnesota-Duluth (7-1)
Location: Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colorado

MATCH NOTES:
First Set: Florida Tech 12, RV Minnesota-Duluth 25

• The Panthers struck first in their final match of the weekend with Ayisha Missipo and Cordelia Kearns earning kills for the first two points.
• Duluth countered with kills of their own and both sides began trading points, leaving the score tied at 2-2, 4-4, 6-6 and 8-8.
• While the Panthers answered points in the beginning of the set, a 5-0 run from the Bulldogs put Tech in a hole.
• A pair of Cordelia Kearns kills put an end to the run, but Tech was unable to find an unanswered run of their own.
• Duluth continued to roll, sparking another big run to put the set away.

Second Set: Florida Tech 15, RV Minnesota-Duluth 25

• After the Bulldogs opened the set with a 4-1 lead, Tech battled back to try and build momentum.
• The Panthers got more kills from Missipo and Kearns, but every point was matched by two from Duluth.
• Trailing 15-7, Tech used a 3-0 run with an ace from Brooke Menke to get back in the game but the Bulldogs started matching points to lead 20-13.
• Despite tough defense from the Panther back row, Duluth still found ways to score and closed out the set on a 5-1 run.

Third Set: Florida Tech 17, RV Minnesota-Duluth 25

• Needing a response after going down 0-2, the Panthers came out swinging in the third set. Ayisha Missipo began the set with three straight kills as Tech gained the early lead.
• While Duluth got on the board, Missipo and Abby Koenen produced two more kills, and Isabelle Clark added a block to grow the Tech lead to 6-2.
• The Bulldogs used a small run to get back in the set, but a kill from Kearns, a block from Kimbrell and Broggio kept the Panthers out front at the midpoint of the set.
• Just as it looked like Tech was going to take control of the set, Duluth ignited a 9-0 run to just tie the set but lead 16-10.
• A Kearns kill and a block from Clark and Broggio put an end to the run, but Duluth came right back to win the next five points and lead 21-12.
• Clark, Broggio and Kearns added another kill each, but the Bulldogs put down any chance of a comeback to win the match.

UP NEXT: The Panthers will head back to the Sunshine State and remain in Florida for the rest of the year. Tech will travel back to Daytona Beach for a lone non-conference matchup against Lewis on Friday, September 11^th. Following the match against Lewis, Florida Tech will begin conference play on September 18^th at home against Nova Southeastern.

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.