Selkridge Scorches Sailfish, Spartans Advance to Elite Eight

TAMPA, Fla. - A career performance from senior Danielle Selkridge gave the No. 7 University of Tampa volleyball team a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Tampa took the regional final 3-1 over Palm Beach Atlantic University to advance to the National Championship Tournament.

Selkridge pummeled the Sailfish for 20 kills, committing a single attack error, good for a sizzling .655 hitting percentage. The South Region Player of the Year blocked four attacks in her final home match of her astounding career as a Spartan.

Fellow senior Jessica Yingling and junior Holly Reschke both posted double-doubles, with 10 kills and 10 digs each. Sophomore Meagan Burke grounded nine kills and tallied two solo blocks. Setter Kahley Patrick posted her own double-double as she paced Tampa to a .353 attack percentage with 43 assists and 10 digs.

Libero Frances Cardenas led all UT players with 12 digs while Sloane Bâby posted 10 as the duo helped limit the Sailfish attack to a .174 clip.

The Sailfish offense was led by Mariela Quesada who amassed 18 kills, while Faith Rohn and Rachel Jones totaled 10 apiece. Libero Melissa Buckingham held the defensive tempo with 18 digs.

In the first set Tampa thwarted a seven kill stanza from Quesada, taking the premier frame of play 25-22. Selkridge swatted five kills as Burke and Marissa Lisenbee swung three each.

The fiery Selkridge smacked a 7-for-9 despite UT dropping the second set 25-21 to PBA, as Quesada mirrored with her own seven kill set.

The Spartans plowed through the Sailfish in the third as a five-kill barrage from Selkridge gave Tampa a 25-12 win.

In the decisive fourth set, the home team scattered 12 kills to seal their bid to the Elite 8 with a 25-11 victory.

Tampa heads to the campus of the University of West Florida, as the site of the 2012 National Championship. The Spartans will face Wheeling Jesuit in the first round of play in Pensacola, Fla., game set for an 8:30 pm start on Dec. 6th.

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2012 NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team
Kristina Hendrick, Christian Brothers
Kelsey Miles, Christian Brothers
Kayshia Brady, Florida Southern
Ali Skayhan, Florida Southern
Becca Acevedo, Palm Beach Atlantic
Melissa Buckingham, Palm Beach Atlantic
Rachel Jones, Palm Beach Atlantic
Mariela Quesada, Palm Beach Atlantic
Meagan Burke, Tampa
Kahley Patrick, Tampa
Holly Reschke, Tampa
Danielle Selkridge, Tampa