November 8, 2014

No. 1 Spartans Clinch SSC Title with Sweep of Lynn

Box Score
Box score
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The No. 1 University of Tampa volleyball team (26-1, 14-0 SSC) swept the Lynn University Fighting Knights (13-12, 6-8 SSC) in three straight sets (25-16, 25-18, 29-19), Saturday afternoon from Lynn's home court in south Florida. The victory improved the Spartans' Sunshine State Conference record to a perfect 14-0 on the year, clinching - at this point - a piece of the SSC title for the tenth-straight season.

The win also marks Tampa's 50th-consecutive Sunshine State Conference victory, a school and conference record that dates back to 2011.

Despite Lynn taking the first point of the match, the Spartans quickly turned up the heat, cruising to a 25-16 first set victory. The Fighting Knights resisted, however, scoring more points in each set along the way, but it would not be enough, as Tampa rallied for a 25-18 second set win before taking the match in the third set with a 25-19 victory.

The Tampa offense earned a .327 attack average in the triumph, forcing 44 kills to the Fighting Knights' 35.
Junior Berkley Whaley led the charge for the Spartans, blasting 14 kills at a .448 clip. The outside hitter has over 35 kills so far this year.

Junior Marissa Lisenbee also scorched a path for the offense registering 12 kills and earning a.478 attack average on the day. Chipping in were Meagan Burke, Allee Stelogeannis, and Jessica Wagner, who all tallied five kills in the effort.

The Spartans' setter, senior Kahley Patrick, who currently ranks fourth in the nation for assists per set, led all players in the match with 36 assists. Additionally, the senior led all Spartans with 15 digs. Whaley also registered double-digit digs, with ten.

From the net, Wagner led all players with six blocks on the afternoon. She currently ranks sixth in the SSC for blocks per set.

Looking ahead, No. 1 Tampa will return to action on Friday, Nov. 14 when they host the visiting Barry University Buccaneers in Sunshine State Conference action. A win against the Bucs would award the Spartans the whole title of SSC Champion. The match is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Martinez Center on the Campus of UT.

Live stats will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.

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