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Box Score 2 SAVANNAH, Ga. - Florida Southern continued its outstanding play here Saturday as the Moccasins completed play in the South/Southeast Region Challenge presented by Optim Health and hosted by Armstrong Atlantic State by posting two hard-fought victories to run its win streak to seven straight matches.
The Mocs, who improved to 8-4 and completed the tournament as the only undefeated team (4-0), opened the final day of the South/Southeast Region Challenge with a four-set win over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (21-25, 25-8, 25-23, 25-21), before completing tournament play with an impressive five-set victory over Armstrong Atlantic State (11-25, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11). The seven match winning streak is the longest for the Mocs since winning seven straight during the 2010 season.
"I'm really proud of the way we played this weekend. It was a big weekend for us as we were able to pick up four big region wins," Mocs head coach Jill Stephens said. "Plus, this gave us some momentum heading into the beginning of Sunshine State Conference play next weekend."
In the win over UPR-Rio Piedras, the Mocs were paced by the play of freshman middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Crescent City, Fla.) and freshman setter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.) as they combined for 26 kills and four blocks. Brady finished with a career-high 14 kills, hit a career-best .619 and had two blocks, while Marotti finished with a career-high 12 kills and had two blocks.
"Kayshia (Brady) and Anne (Pietkiewski) really played outstanding this weekend," said Stephens, who has now won 258 matches at her alma mater. "We also got outstanding play for everyone on the team. It was a total team effort."
Senior outside hitter Anne Pietkiewicz (Winter Park, Fla.) added eight kills and 12 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Jasmine Childress (Muncie, Ind.) recorded a team-high 16 digs and freshman Arielle Fernandez (Pacifica, Calif.) added 13 digs in the win.
UPRRP won the first set as the Mocs hit .031 and were outdug, 21-15 and outkilled, 16-5, before FSC came back to record three straight wins, including posting a 25-8 win in the second set, to earn the victory and extend its win streak to six straight.
Rio Piedras (3-3 on the season) was paced by a double-double of 18 kills and 16 digs from Yozually Ortiz and 17 kills and 14 digs from Idalia Andino. Deborah Anglero added 22 digs as UPRPRÂ finished with 69 digs and had 55 kills in the loss.
Meanwhile, in the win over AASU, the Mocs dominated in the middle two sets (recorded 31 kills and hit a combined .256) to take a 2-1 lead and then rebounded after losing, 25-21 in the fourth set to earn a 15-11 victory in the fifth and deciding set. In the fifth set, FSC outhit AASU, .233 to .120 and recorded 11 of its 61 kills.
Against the Pirates, Pietkiewicz played one of her best matches of the season as she recorded 20 kills and added 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. She had five of her 20 kills in the fifth and deciding set and finished the match with a .362 hitting percentage. In addition to Pietkiewicz, sophomore outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Lexington, Ky.) added 13 kills and 17 digs for her fifth double-double of the year and also chipped in with three blocks, inclduing two solo blocks.
The third Moc in double figures in kills against AASU was sophomore right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.), who finished with 10 kills and has now had double-digit kills in six matches.
AASU, who fell to 8-2 with the loss, was paced by the play of 17 kills and 23 digs from Jessica Santaniello, while Amanda Jones added 14 kills and hit .293 and Brittany Wolf chipped in with 13 kills, five blocks and hit .400 for the match.
The Mocs return to action next weekend as they open SSC play on Friday, Sept. 21 against Lynn University, before hosting Barry on Saturday, Sept. 22. First serve for Friday's match with Lynn is set for 7 p.m. at Jenkins Field House, while the Barry match will begin at 4 p.m. at Jenkins Field House.
