Box Score LAKELAND - Florida Southern returned to the court here Saturday afternoon as they picked up a three-set victory over Sunshine State Conference foe Barry University (25-21, 25-21, 25-16) as part of Parent's Weekend at Jenkins Field House.
The win improves the Mocs' record to 13-5 on the season and 5-1 in the conference, while the loss drops the visiting Buccaneers to 5-8, 1-5 in the conference, and extends their recent losing streak to three matches.
Saturday's match was the fourth consecutive home match for Florida Southern, it's second in as many days, and the sixth consecutive SSC home win since falling to Tampa on Nov. 3, 2012.
FSC's win was powered by a strong defense, as the Mocs recorded 49 digs, 5.5 blocks, and held the Buccaneers to a paltry .196 hitting percentage on the afternoon. The Moccasins also featured a balanced offense, scoring 43 kills and recording 41 assists on the game.
Freshman outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.) recorded a match-high 11 kills on 31 attempts, posting a .290 hitting percentage in the victory, while junior right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.) posted nine kills on 19 attempts. Sophomore middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.) and senior middle blocker Dominique Hale (Kingman, Ariz.) were both third on the team with six kills each.
Junior libero Catherine Brusie (North Branch, Mich.) posted a match-high 13 digs, while junior setter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.) was next on the team in digs with nine, followed by Langley with eight. Marotti also lead both teams in assists with 33.
The Moccasins were in control for most of the match, as there were only three lead changes and seven ties, although only one lead change occurred after the first set.
The teams traded scores for most of the first set, neither team able to pull away, until the Moccasins used a 9-4 run to turn a 13-all tie into a 22-17 lead before Barry was forced to call a timeout. The run was keyed by three service aces from Fernandez and Marotti. The Buccaneers would score two consecutive points to pull to within four, but two consecutive kills from Fernandez gave the Mocs the first set. Langley led all players in the first set with 6 kills, while Marotti picked up six digs and 12 assists.
In the second set, the Moccasins jumped out to an 11-6 lead after a four-point run broke open a tight 7-6 lead in favor of Florida Southern. The Buccaneers kept the set close, pulling as close as three points throughout, before Florida Southern pulled away for another 25-21 victory in the set. It was Hale that led the Mocs with four kills, while Marotti once again posted 12 assists.
In the third and final set, Florida Southern once again jumped out to a big 16-9 before Barry scored three on consecutive points to close the deficit to five. However, it was as close as the Buccaneers would come to tying the score in the third set, as Florida Southern put their foot on the pedal dominated the remainder of the set, taking the match in a convincing fashion.
The Bucs were lead on offense by Jenny Trinidad and Jayla Trombley with six kills apiece, while Trinidad led the team with 21 assists. Tashalyn Begon and Laine Cielena were next in kills with five each, while Jasmine Serna led Barry on defense with 16 digs.
The Mocs return to the court next weekend in Pensacola as they face North Alabama and Valdosta State on Friday, Oct. 18, and Christian Brothers and 19th-ranked West Florida on Saturday, Oct. 19, as part of the South Region Crossover hosted by the University of West Florida.
