Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. - Florida Southern College volleyball saw eight players record kills on Saturday afternoon at the Streamline Sale Arena, but were unable to overcome a strong defensive outing from Nova Southeastern in a 3-0 loss. The Moccasins (3-12, 1-6 SSC) recorded only five less kills than the Sharks (10-6, 3-5 SSC), but were overpowered by a 12-block outing from the away side in three sets. The Mocs will travel to Birmingham, Ala. for three matches at the South Region Crossover on Oct. 18-19.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Moccasins set the tone early with a hot 4-0 start on two kills and two Shark errors, but NSU responded with a 10-4 run to take an early 10-8 lead. Five of the next six points went the way of the home side and forced a NSU timeout with a 13-11 Mocs lead, with the Sharks retaliating with a 7-2 run to then force a FSC timeout. The momentum swings continued as another 4-1 Moccasin run forced a second Shark timeout at the 19-19 mark. The Sharks, despite hitting .143 to the Mocs' .219, took the first set, 25-23.
- Set two saw a 3-0 Shark start erased by a 5-0 Moccasin momentum swing, only for Nova Southeastern to rebound with a 6-1 run that forced a Moccasin timeout with a 10-6 NSU lead. After the Mocs drew the set level at 11, Nova Southeastern won six-straight points to earn a 17-11 lead, and held on for a 25-21 second-set win.
- After the Mocs won the first point of the third set, Nova Southeastern controlled the narrative and never gave up the lead. The Sharks capitalized off of seven Moccasin errors and despite the Mocs finishing the set on an 8-6 run, NSU captured the third set, 25-18, and the match 3-0.
- Tierra Porter led the Mocs for the second-straight night in kills (7) followed by Raeley Matthews with six. Erica Ronda tallied 16 digs and Hailey Williams joined the double-digit club with 11 of her own. The Moccasins recorded eight blocks, with Porter (6) and Anica Popadic (3) leading the squad.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Moccasins still lead the all-time series against the Sharks, 30-6, with a 16-3 record at home and have still won 17 of the last 19 matches.
- Southern had the better first set over Nova Southeastern, despite losing 25-23. The Mocs outhit the Sharks .219 to .143, tallied 14 kills to their 10, and recorded 18 digs to the away side's 10.
- Aside from libero Williams, every Moccasin that participated in the match earned a kill. The eight Mocs who earned kills include Porter (7), Matthews (6), Popadic (4), Buse Ene (4), Mika Garza (4), Lena Bondar (4), Ronda (2) and Mandee Eberle (1).
UP NEXT
- Southern will now look towards non-conference action next weekend as they participate at the South Region Crossover in Birmingham, Ala. on Fri., Oct. 18 and Sat., Oct. 19.
