Box Score LAKELAND - Florida Southern had three players record double-doubles in its four-set win here Saturday afternoon over Rollins (17-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-17) in Sunshine State Conference action at Jenkins Field House.
With the win, the Moccasins snap its two-game losing streak and improve to a 17-7 overall and 6-2 in the SSC, while Rollins fell to 17-6 overall and 4-4 in the league. Saturday's match completed the first half of league play for both teams.
One night after hitting .131 in its three-set loss to No. 2 ranked Tampa, the Mocs offense hit .243 for the match, including hitting over .350 in the final two sets and its defense also was strong as they recorded 85 digs and eight blocks in the match that lasted nearly two hours.
Leading the way offensively for the Mocs was junior outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Lexington, Ky.) as she recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 14 digs, while freshman outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.) added 12 kills and 16 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and sophomore middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.) had 12 kills, four blocks and hit .a team-best .355 in the win.
The other Moc to record a double-double in Saturday's match was sophomore setter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.) as she had 49 assists and 13 digs for her team-leading 14th double-double. Marotti also added three blocks, including a career-high two solo blocks and hit .300 in the victory.
Saturday's match featured the top two digging teams in the league as FSC entered the match leading the SSC and third nationally in digs per set (19.89), while Rollins was second in the league in digs per set (17.92). For the match, FSC had 85 and Rollins added 82, including a combined 58 in the second set alone.
Sophomore libero Catherine Brusie (North Branch, Mich.) led the way defensively for the Mocs as she finished with 23 digs, while Rollins' Collyn Welsch finished with a match-high 27 digs. Welsch entered this week's action leading the league in digs per set as she averages 5.10 per set.
In the first set, the Mocs never held a lead as they got behind 4-1 and trailed by as much seven points at 16-9 before using 6-3 run to pull within 19-15. The Tars would close out the set on a 6-2 run to post a 25-17 win. In the set, FSC was held to an .023 hitting percentage, while RC hit just .114.
After losing the first set, the Mocs jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the second set and led 17-10 when the Tars used an 8-4 run to drop FSC's lead to 21-18. The team's would each score four points to close out the set and post a 25-22 lead. In the set, the team's combined to record 33 kills as FSC had 19 kills, including five apiece from Stromberg, Langley and junior right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.).
The third set belonged to the Mocs as they scored the first five points and led by as much as 12 points following an ace by sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Shlemon (Tampa, Fla.). Shlemon's ace gave the Mocs a 22-11 lead. After a kill by Jessica Wilson stopped the FSC run, the Mocs would close the set by scoring the final three points on kills by Langley, Marotti and senior middle blocker Dominique Hale (Kingman, Ariz.) to post a 25-12 win. The Mocs hit .377 in the set and held Rollins to a negative -.077 attack percentage.
Leading 2-1, the Mocs jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set until the Tars used an 8-5 run to take a 9-8 lead. FSC, though, would answer with a 12-5 run to take a 21-15 lead. After a kill by Wilson stopped the Mocs run, FSC would close out the set and the match by scoring four of the final five points to post a 25-17 victory and earn the match victory. FSC hit .457 in the set as Brady and Langley combined for nine of their team's 17 kills.
Rollins, who finished with a .117 hitting percentage for the match, was paced offensively by Camille Indest as she had 10 kills in the loss. In addition to Indest, Wilson added nine kills and three blocks and Ruth Harrington chipped in with eight kills for the Tars.
In addition to the double figure kills recorded by Stromberg, Langley and Brady, Fernandez added nine kills, nine digs and three blocks, while Hale recorded six kills and two blocks.
The Mocs will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 29 as they open the second half of its SSC schedule with a 7 p.m. match at Saint Leo. The Mocs collected a four-set win over the Lions in Lakeland on Sept. 24 to open SSC play.
