LAKELAND - In a match-up between two squads that advanced to the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament a season ago, Northwood came out on top over Florida Southern in four sets (25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 25-20) here Friday evening to close out the first day of the season opening FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic at Jenkins Field House.

Friday night's setback came a little less than five hours after the Mocs opened the 2013 season with a three-set victory over Anderson in its first match of the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic.

In the match against Northwood, both teams struggled with errors as their were a combined 88 errors in the match that lasted almost two hours. Among the errors, the teams combined for 50 attack errors and 21 service errors, including 13 service miscues by the Mocs. In addition, the match featured 30 ties and 16 lead changes, including a total of 23 ties in the first two sets.

For the second straight match, the Mocs (1-1) offense was paced by junior outside hitter Kate Stromberg (Louisville, Ky.) as she recorded a team-high 13 kills and added 21 digs for her second consecutive double-double to open the new season. In the first two sets, she combined for nine kills, including five in the opening set.

Along with Stromberg, freshman outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.) turned in an impressive match in just her second collegiate outing as she finished with 11 kills and a team-high 18 digs for her first double-double as a Moc, while sophomore middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.) added nine kills, five digs and four blocks in the loss.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed hands five times and there were 11 ties. In the first set, neither team could gain much control until Northwood used a 6-2 run to take a 12-8 lead following an ace by returning first team All-American Juliia Pakhomenko. The Mocs, though, would respond with a 9-2 run to take a 17-14 lead following a kill by junior right side hitter Gabby Fernandez (Tampa, Fla.). From that point, the set would be tied at 17, 18, 19 and 20, before the Timberwolves, who are from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, took a 22-20 lead following a kill and an ace. The Mocs would tie the set at 23 following an error by Northwood, but the Timberwolves would score the final two points to take the first set.

Much like the first set, the two teams also battled back-and-forth in the second set as they both combined for 12 ties and six lead changes. In the early going, neither team could muster more than a one point lead until Northwood, who earned 56 votes in the Preseason AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, reeled off four straight points to turn an 8-7 deficit into an 11-8 lead. FSC would answer as they scored 10 of the next 17 points to tie the set at 18 following an attack error by Kristin Perschon. After two quick points gave NU as 20-18 edge, the Mocs used a 6-3 run capped by four straight kills, including two from Fernandez to take a 24-23 lead. The Mocs had a chance to earn the win on the next service, but sophomore setter Kendall Marotti's (LaBelle, Fla.) serve went into the net to tie the set at 24. That error opened the door for NU as they closed the set by scoring the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Fernandez finished the match with eight kills, 11 digs and two blocks.

The Mocs would extract some revenge in the third set as they jumped out to an 8-5 lead and led 16-11 following a kill by Stromberg. The Timberwolves, though, fought back as they pulled within 21-14, before the Mocs closed the set by scoring four of the final seven points to earn the 25-17 win and prevent a sweep. In the third set, the Mocs hit .167 and held NU to a -.037 hitting percentage.

Much like the first three sets, the fourth set was another strong tussle as the Mocs jumped out to a 7-4 lead and led 15-12 after a kill from Brady. Following Brady's kill, NU responded with an 8-5 run to push out to a 23-20 lead. NU would cap the match victory with back-to-back kills from Krysta Kramer and Perschon to seal the win.

Pakhomenko led the way for Northwood as she recorded a double-double of 17 kills and 16 digs. In addition to Pakhomenko, Cassandra Marsh added eight kills and hit .421, whoile Kramer finished with seven kills and nine digs in the win. The Timberwolves recorded 98 digs in the match as Elizabeth Barker had a match-high 28, while Jordan Dunn added 21. 

FSC also got a double-double from Marotti as she finished with 41 assists and 11 digs in the loss. Junior libero Catherine Brusie (North Branch, Mich.) chipped in with 17 digs and the Mocs recorded 95 for the four-set match.

For the night, FSC had 52 kill, seven blocks and hit .145, while Northwood recorded 47 kills, three blocks and hit .116. Both teams combined for eight aces as FSC had three and NU posted five. 

FSC will conclude play in the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic on Saturday by facing Belmont Abbey (1-1) at 12:30 p.m. and concluding the two-day event at 7:30 p.m. against Wisconsin-Parkside (2-0).

Complete Day One results of FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic
Wisconsin-Parkside 3, Anderson 2 (25-18, 25-22, 14-25, 25-27, 15-7)
#2 Tampa 3, Northwood 0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-12)
Belmont Abbey 3, Kentucky State 0 (25-16, 25-7, 25-18)
Florida Southern 3, Anderson 0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-18)
Wisconsin-Parkside 3, Kentucky State 0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-15)
#2 Tampa 3, Belmont Abbey 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-16)
Northwood 3, Florida Southern (25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 25-20)