Box Score LAKELAND - Florida Southern opened the 2013 season here Friday afternoon by posting a three-set victory over Anderson (25-17, 25-10, 25-18) in its first match of the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic at Jenkins Field House.
The Moccasins, who earned 16 votes in the Preseason AVCA D-II Coaches Poll, used a double-double effort of 14 kills and 11 digs from junior outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Lexington, Ky.) and a .636 hitting percentage from sophomore middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.), who finished with seven kills and two blocks, in picking up a win its season opener for the first time since the Mocs picked up a four-set victory over St. Edward's to open the 2011 campaign.
FSC opened the match by jumping out to a 10-5 lead in the first set. The lead was aided by two kills apiece from Stomberg and freshman outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.). Langley finished with six kills and eight digs in her collegiate debut. After Anderson (0-2) got within 13-8 following a kill by Hailey Pittman, the Mocs used an 8-5 run to push its lead to 21-13 after a Trojan attack error. The Trojans would get within 24-17 following a Stromberg service error, but the Mocs would seal the first set win with a kill by junior right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.).
In the second set, Anderson jumped out to a 4-1 lead and led 5-3 when the Mocs scored 11 consecutive points, all with Stromberg serving to take a 13-5 lead. The 11 consecutive points served is the fourth longest streak in school history. After the run was stopped by an attack error from Stromberg, the Mocs would use a 5-2 run to push its lead to 18-7 following an block by Brady and sophomore setter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.), who had a career-high 37 assists and added eight digs and three assisted blocks for the match. FSC would close out the set on a 7-3 run to post a 25-10 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
FSC jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set, before Anderson responded with a 5-0 run to tie things up a 6-all. The set would feature eight ties and three lead changes with the final tie coming at 13-13 following a kill by Anderson's Priscilla Irizarry. Following Irizarry's kill, the Mocs went on a 9-2 run to push out to a 22-15 lead following an attack error by Shannon Gillespie. The Trojans would get within 24-18 following an ace by Gillespie, but Langley sealed the set and the match with a kill.
In addition to Stromberg's 14 kills, senior middle blocker Dominique Hale (Kingman, Ariz.) matched her career high with 12 kills and hit .529 in the win. Junior libero Catherine Brusie (North Branch, Mich.) picked up a match-high 16 digs in her Moccasin debut as she played the past two seasons at Winthrop University.
Pittman led Anderson with nine kills, while Gillespie and Irizarry each added six in the loss. Gillespie and Alix Hooker each posted 10 digs for the Trojans.
As a team, the Mocs finished with a .374 hitting percentage, including hitting .424 in the third and final set. FSC also recorded 45 kills and a total of four blocks, while Anderson finished with 26 kills, hit .090 for the 66-minute match and had two total blocks.
The Mocs also finished with seven aces for the match, including three from Stromberg.
FSC will conclude the first day of the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic with a 7:30 p.m. match against Northwood, who earned 58 votes to be the top team receiving votes in the Preseason AVCA Coaches Poll. Northwood opened the tournament with a three-set loss to No. 2 ranked Tampa.
