Box Score LAKELAND - Florida Southern rallied after losing the opening set here Tuesday evening to post a four-set victory over Embry-Riddle (15-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-19) in non-conference action at Jenkins Field House.
The victory extended the 15-ranked Moccasins' win streak to four straight matches and improved its overall record to 17-3, while Embry-Riddle fell to 12-7 on the year.
Tuesday's meeting was the second this season between the two teams as the Mocs earned a four-set win in Daytona Beach on Sept. 19. In that match, the Mocs were forced to play extra points in all three sets they won. FSC won that match by scores of 26-24, 29-27, 23-25, 28-26.
It was the first time the Mocs had rallied to win a match after losing the first set since losing the first set of its regular season finale last season against Rollins. The Mocs entered Tuesday's match sporting an 0-2 record this season when losing the opening set.
Tuesday's victory was aided by an offense that hit over .275 in each of the final three sets, including hitting .368 in the fourth and final set. Along with its offense, the Mocs defense also was strong as they recorded a match high 76 digs and had seven blocks, including four in the third set.
For the match, the Mocs hit .285 and recorded 55 kills and held the Eagles, who are in their first season as a provisional member of the Sunshine State Conference, to a .163 attack percentage. ERAU hit -.133 in the third set.
The Mocs offense was paced by 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage from junior outside hitter Brindl Langley (Camas, Wash.) and a career high 11 kills and a .360 hitting percentage from freshman outside hitter Nicole Mattson (Oviedo, Fla.) in just her second career start. Mattson's previous career high in kills was three this past weekend against Lee (Tenn.) University at the South Regional Crossover.
In addition to Langley and Mattson, sophomore outside hitter Anna Tovo (Aiken, S.C.) and senior middle blocker Kayshia Brady (Welaka, Fla.) each added nine kills, while Brady hit .400 and Tovo recorded a team-high tying 16 digs.
On defense, freshman setter Bethany Besancenez (St. Louis, Mo.) had a career high 16 digs and addd 22 assists for her fourth double-double of the season. Along with Besancenez, Langley added 10 digs for her fourth consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.
Mattson, Brady and Tovo and sophomore middle blocker Allie Geary (DeLand, Fla.) each had three blocks in the win, which extended FSC's non-conference win streak to 13 straight matches dating to last season.
The Mocs jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the opening set and led 7-6 when the Eagles used 4-0 run to take a 10-7 lead. FSC, though, would respond with a 5-2 run to tie the set at 12. Following FSC's run, ERAU used 5-1 run to push out to an 18-13 lead. After kill from Mattson brought the Mocs within four at 18-14, the Eagles would close out the set on a 7-2 run to earn a 25-15 win and take 1-0 lead in the match. ERAU hit .263 in the set and held the Mocs to a .143 attack percentage.
Trailing 1-0 in the match, the Mocs jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the second set and led 12-6 when the Eagles used a 3-1 run to pull within 13-9. The Mocs, though, would answer with a 9-5 run to push its lead to 22-14. After two straight kills from the Eagles dropped FSC's lead to 22-16, the Mocs would score three of the set's final four points to earn a 25-17 win and tie the match at a set apiece. FSC hit .351 in the set and had 15 kills.
The third set was close early on as the both teams traded points to open the set, but the Mocs used a 7-2 flurry to take an 8-3 lead. The Eagles would score two of the next three points to pull within 9-5, but couldn't det any closer the Mocs responded with a 9-5 run to push its lead to 18-10. After an ace from Caitlyn Ballard brought the Eagles within 18-11, the Mocs would close out the set by scoring seven of the final nine points to earn a 25-12 win and take a 2-1 lead in the match. FSC hit .296 in the set and held ERAU to a -.133 attack percentage.
Much like the first set, the fourth set was another competitive affair as it featured five ties and three lead changes. ERAU held an early 5-4 lead, before the Mocs used a 9-1 run to take a 13-6 lead. The run was aided by three kills from Mattson, who had four of her 11 kills in the set. The Eagles, though, wouldn't go away as they responded with a 9-3 run aided by four kills from Evelina Abdurakhmanova. After a Langley kill gave the Mocs a 17-15 advantage, the Eagles would score three of the next five points to pull within a point at 19-18. That would be as close as ERAU would get as the Mocs scored six of the set's final seven points, including capping the 25-19 win with a kill from Tovo. Mattson and Langley each had four kills in the set, while Geary, Tovo and senior right side hitter Kendall Marotti (LaBelle, Fla.) each had three.
The Eagles, who have now lost two straight matches, were paced by the play of Abdurakhmanova as she finished with 16 kills on 40 attack attempts and added nine digs. Along with Abdurakhmanova, Amanda Saunders added 10 kills and eight digs, while Ballard had a match high 26 digs and Tamires Ferreira posted a double-double of 34 assists and 16 digs in the setback. In the match earlier this season at Embry-Riddle, Abdurakhmanova had 15 kills and 12 digs.
FSC will return to SSC action this coming Friday, Oct. 23 as they travel to Miami Shores for a 7 p.m. match at Barry. The road swing will then continue on Saturday, Oct. 24 as they Mocs travel to West Palm Beach for a 4 p.m. match against 17th-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic. Like Embry-Riddle, PBA is in its first season as a provisional member of the SSC.
