Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. - Florida Southern College volleyball had nine members record kills but were unable to overcome a hot-hitting Eckerd team as they fell, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Streamline Sale Arena at Jenkins Field House. The Moccasins (5-14, 1-8 SSC) started out strong in the first set but could not stop the Tritons (14-6, 5-4 SSC) as they heated up offensively throughout the night. The Mocs continue SSC play at home on Friday at 7 p.m. against Barry and Saturday at 4 p.m. against Palm Beach Atlantic.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Florida Southern set the tone early with three-straight points that started a 10-3 run. Eckerd called a timeout and battled back, winning nine of the next 11 points to tie the match at 12. The Tritons won the next nine points and closed out the first set, 25-14.
- Eckerd controlled the beginning of set two by earning a 5-2 lead. From there the Triton lead would vary from as much as seven (15-8) to three (17-14). The Moccasins closed the gap to one as the end of the set drew near (24-23), but were unable to complete the comeback as Eckerd took a tightly-contested 25-23 second set.
- FSC responded in set three by winning three of the first four points and throughout the set maintained a slight edge over Eckerd. The Moccasins held an 11-8 lead when, out of an Eckerd timeout, the Tritons scored three straight on two aces to tie the match at 11. The tie score would continue until Eckerd pulled ahead at 16-13, forcing a Moccasin timeout. The Tritons maintained the margin as they held on for a 25-20 third-set victory to win the match, 3-0.
- Raeley Matthews led the Mocs with nine kills while Rachael Martin tallied eight kills on 15 attempts for a .467 hitting percentage. Matthews also led in digs (11), followed by Beatrice Formilan and Annie Collins, each with 10. Collins recorded 30 assists while Martin led the team with three blocks.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Despite the loss Florida Southern still leads the all-time series, 75-12. The Moccasins also still boast a 39-4 record at home against the Tritons.
- A season-high nine Moccasins recorded kills as Matthews (9), Martin (8), Hailey Williams (6), Erica Ronda (4), Buse Ene (3), Tierra Porter (3), Collins (2), Anica Popadic (1) and Mandee Eberle (1) all contributed. Previously the Moccasins had eight players record kills five times this season against Saint Leo (Sept. 20), Eckerd (Sept. 21), Rollins (Oct. 5), Nova Southeastern (Oct. 12) and Lee (Oct. 19).
- Two Mocs hit above .400: Martin (.467) and Williams (.417), with both having season-high performances (with at least five kills in the match).
- Three Mocs earned double-digit digs: Matthews (11), Formilan (10) and Collins (10).
UP NEXT
- Southern will continue its four-game homestand this weekend as they host Barry on Friday at 7 p.m. and Palm Beach Atlantic at 4 p.m.
