Box Score TAMPA, FL - Florida Southern College volleyball was unable to overcome an early 2-0 hole as it fell to No. 23 Tampa, 3-1, on Tuesday night at the Martinez Center. The Moccasins (15-8, 7-4 SSC) rallied to win the third set, but the Spartans (18-6, 8-3) defended their home court to keep pace atop the Sunshine State Conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Tuesday's match started with a bang a Tampa took a 25-23 win in a highly-competitive first set that saw four lead changes. Both squads were even in the early going until Florida Southern used a 5-1 run to take a 12-10 lead at the midpoint. The Mocs would keep the advantage until the Spartans reeled off 6-1 run later in the set to grab a 17-14 lead. Tampa would jump ahead by five points (22-17) later in the set, but the Moccasins fought back to make it 24-23 before Tampa closed out the set with a kill.
• Florida Southern looked as if it may tie the match at a set apiece when it was able to take a 17-11 lead in the second set, but Tampa was able to mount a 7-1 run to tie things at 18-18. With the score tied at 22, the Spartans came up with three-straight kills to take a 25-22 second-set victory and a 2-0 lead.
• The Spartans had themselves positioned for a sweep in the third set as they built a five-point lead (19-14) late in the set. But Florida Southern came roaring back with eight-straight points to take a 22-19 lead. It was all the momentum the Mocs would need as they came away with a 25-22 third-set win.
• Tampa jumped out to an early 11-5 lead in the fourth set, but Florida Southern was able to cut the deficit to a single point (11-10) thanks to a 5-0 run. The Spartans were able to stay in front thanks in large part to a pair of 3-0 runs, and came out with a 25-18 victory to clinch the match.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern fell to 54-69 all-time against Tampa, including 12-36 on the road. The Moccasins have lost 28-straight road contests to Tampa, with their last win coming on Nov. 2, 1994.
• Brindl Langley finished with a match-high 28 digs to push her career total to 1,719. She needs just 31 more to move into second place in Florida Southern history in career digs, and 96 more to break Sara Stewart's school record of 1,815.
• Anna Tovo led the Mocs with 16 kills. She has now posted double-digit kills in 36-straight matches dating back to last season.
• Four Moccasins recorded at least 10 kills. In addition to Tovo, Rachel Mostert (13), Nicole Mattson (11), and Allie Geary (10) each recorded double-digit kill totals.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern travels to Lynn for a 7 p.m. contest on Friday before heading to Barry at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Mocs finish a four-match road trip with a contest at Rollins on Nov. 8.
