Box Score BOCA RATON - Florida Southern played its most efficient match of the season here Friday morning in opening the Courtyard by Marriott/Lynn Invitational by posting an impressive three-set sweep over Assumption (25-16, 25-18, 25-14) at the deHoernle Center.
FSC, who improved to 2-4 on the season with the win, had nine players record at least one kill and seven players hit over .300 in the 75 minute match. As a team, the Moccasins hit a season-high .407 and recorded 43 kills and had just 10 errors on 81 attacks.
Senior outside hitter Anne Pietkiewicz (Winter Park, Fla.) led the way offensively for the Mocs with a season-high 16 kills and added 10 digs for her second double-double this season and 24th in her career. Additionally, Pietkiewicz hit a career-best .536 in the match as she had just one attack error on 28 attempts.
Along with Pietkiewicz, sophomore right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.) added seven kills and hit .357, while sophomore outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Lexington, Ky.) chipped in with six kills and hit .417 in the victory.
FSC's serving was particularly effiective as they delivered a season-high 13 aces, including a season-high three from Pietkiewicz, while Fernandez and freshman outside hitter Hailey Prescher (Dana Point, Calif.) each had two aces on the day.
Defensively, sophomore libero Jasmine Childress (Muncie, Ind.) recorded a career-high 10 digs as FSC had 40 digs for the match.
In the first set, the Mocs jumped out to an 11-3 lead and were never threatened as Assumption could only get as close as 20-13 following an attack error by the Mocs. FSC, though, would end the set scoring five of the final eight points. In the first set, the Mocs hit .520 and had 16 kills.
Assumption scored the first point of the second set, before the Mocs responded with an 8-4 run to take an 8-5 lead. Assumption would pull within 8-7, but would get no closer as FSC pushed its lead to as much as 22-16. The Mocs ended the set scoring three of the final five points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, the Mocs once again dominated as they jumped out to an early 7-4 lead behind three blocks from senior middle blocker Morgan Kosterlitz (Dunedin, Fla.). The Mocs lead grew to as much as 21-11 on an ace by Prescher. After two consecutive points by Assumption to drop FSC's lead to 21-13, the Mocs ended the match by scoring four of the final five points. In the final set, FSC hit .423 and recorded four of its match-high five blocks, including three each from Kosterlitz and freshman Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.).
Kosterlitz finished with a season-high tying four blocks, while Marotti added three blocks in her first collegiate match.
Assumption (4-3 on the season), who had 23 kills and hit only .160 as a team, was paced by six kills apiece from Ann Donahue and Alie Carlson.
The Mocs will continue tournament action later on Friday as they face Valdosta State in a 4:30 p.m. match. FSC will conclude tournament on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. match against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.
