Spartans Come From Behind to Beat #4 Barry, Move to Brink of Conference Title

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The Spartans finish strong to beat Barry in five sets for the second time this season.

Final Score: No. 1 Tampa 3 (1: 14-25, 2: 25-23, 3: 21-25, 4: 25-19, 5: 15-10), No. 4 Barry 2

Records: No. 1 Tampa (24-0, 16-0 SSC), No. 4 Barry (20-4, 13-4 SSC)

Location: Health & Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: Barry got off to a quick start using strong serving to take an early 9-2 lead. Tampa would attempt to make a comeback late in the set as Tess Schrenger recorded back-to-back kills and Jenna Davis recorded a solo block sandwiched between a pair of kills. Tampa's late push would not trouble Barry though as the Bucs comfortably won the first set without trailing behind a .577 hitting percentage. | Score: 14-25 Barry

Second Set: Tampa would build off their strong first set finish and build a 6-1 lead in the second set. With Tampa leading 15-13, Nathaly Perez and Rachel Gregg would team up to earn the next three points with each recording a kill, and the pair teaming up for a block to extend the Tampa lead to 18-13. Barry would make a run late to take the lead, but Tampa scored the last three points of the set with Connor Rahn getting the finishing kill. | Score 25-23 Tampa

Third Set: Tampa's attack started the third set well as Kayla Dondero dished out four assists in the Spartans' first five points. Both teams would flex their hitting muscle in the third set with both teams hitting at or over .400. Tampa's impressive .545 with zero errors would not be enough as Barry would once again use excellent serving to carve out a narrow set three victory. | Score 21-25 Barry

Fourth Set: Schrenger would start the fourth set strong for Tampa with three quick kills to help Tampa to an early 8-3 lead. Tampa would then use their defense to extend their advantage by forcing Barry into a couple hitting mistakes. Schrenger would show up again at the end of the set by recording another four kills out of five Tampa points to help the Spartans force a fifth set. | Score: 25-19 Tampa

Fifth Set: The fifth set would go back and forth for the first half of it. However, after trailing 6-7, Tampa would win seven consecutive points with Dondero at the service line to take a commanding 13-7 lead. Tampa would soon consolidate this lead and take the match for their second come from behind win against Barry this season. | Score: 15-10 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Schrenger led the Spartans with 18 kills.
• Rahn recorded a double-double with 12 kills and a team leading 15 digs.
• The Spartans improved to 16-0 in the SSC.
• Jenna Glaudel and Dondero each recorded 20 assists on the match.
• Davis and Gregg combined for 17 kills on 25 attempts with 0 errors (.680 percentage).
• Tampa can clinch an outright conference title with a win tomorrow against Lynn.