Spartans to Host Courtyard by Marriott Classic to Begin the 2016 Season
The No. 7 Tampa volleyball team will kick-off 2016 with a weekend slate starting with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against first-time foe Franklin Pierce University.
TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 7 University of Tampa volleyball team will open its 2016 season at home, hosting the Courtyard by Marriott Classic at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center beginning Friday.
UT opens the classic facing Franklin Pierce at 2:30 p.m., followed by an evening match against Henderson State at 7:00 p.m.
The Spartans concluded last season with a 27-6 record to win its 25th Sunshine State Conference title. Tampa participated in its 20th-consecutive NCAA tournament last year, falling in five sets in the South Region Semifinal. Head coach Chris Catanach will begin his 33rd season at the helm of the UT volleyball team, sitting 999-173 over the course of his storied career.
Returning from her stellar first season of collegiate play is SSC Freshman of the year Logan Holanchock who anchored the team defensively in the 2015 campaign with 606 digs with an average of 5.05 digs per set.
All-SSC Commissioner's honor roll and returning senior Allee Stelogeannis will be stalwart in the Tampa lineup. In her junior season the outside hitter notched 179 kills and 2.01 kills per set. During her time in the back row, she tallied a career-best 186 digs across 29 matches.
UT will start the 2016 season with a match up against the Ravens of Franklin Pierce at 2:30 p.m. FPU concluded their season with a record of 18-11. The Ravens look to have a strong season with returning Northeast-10 Rookie of the year Katie Leidhold in addition to three other returning All-Northeast-10 award winners. UT will take on FPU for the first time in program history.
At 7:00 p.m. the Spartans will face off against the Henderson State Reddies. The Reddies come with returning All-Great American Conference honorable mention, Jessie Jacoby. Jacoby averaged 3.58 kills per set and recorded 10 or more kills in 15 matches.
Tampa sports a 2-0 record against Henderson, will match up for the first time since 1998.
Live stats as well as a live video webcast for both matches will be provided through www.tampaspartans.com.
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