Mocs Close Out GSC/SSC Crossover with Another Five-Set Affair

HOOVER, Ala. – The Florida Southern volleyball team went the distance once against as the Mocs used all five sets to take down the Falcons from the University of Montevallo. FSC closes out the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover with a 2-1 record including a pair of five-set victories.
 
The win improves Florida Southern's record to 11-8 while the Falcons from Montevallo fell to 15-8 on the season.
 
Senior Ali Travis led the offensive effort Saturday as she tallied 12 kills in the victory. She added a team-high six service aces as well as 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and second of the weekend. Graduate student Emma Shaddix chipped in 10 kills, 13 digs and four blocks. It marked the first double-double of her career.
 
Senior Madison Barton just missed out on a double-double with eight kills and a career-high 13 digs. Sophomore Madison Fowler had a career-high eight blocks including an impressive five solo stops.
 
Junior Cassidy Markel held down the setter position and dished out 26 assists while digging up 13 balls. She also added two blocks, two service aces and four kills. The performance was Markel's second double-double of the season. Graduate student libero Beatrice Formilan dug up a team-best 23 balls while adding a service ace.
 
Both teams struggled to get things going offensively with the Mocs posting a .091 hitting percentage compared to Montevallo's .120. FSC produced 12 service aces while holding the Falcons to just four while the Mocs also out-blocked the Falcons 16-6.
 
Macy Martin led the Falcons with 15 kills while Allie Dishman chipped in 14.
 
Montevallo led early in the opening set including jumping out to a 12-6 lead. The Mocs then used an 8-1 run to flip the advantage and give FSC a 17-15 lead. The Falcons tied the set at 17 all but that would be as close as they would get as the Mocs held them off down the stretch. Markel closed out the set with a service ace followed by a quick dump set to close out the period 25-21.
 
The second set saw the Falcons jump out to a 15-6 lead and this time they did not give up the big run to the Mocs. The Falcons cruised down the stretch to a 25-17 second set victory. The third set looked like the first two with the Falcons opening up the period with a 15-5 run. The Mocs responded with a 14-4 run of their own to tie the score at 19-19. Both teams traded points down the stretch but a block from Shaddix and junior Emily Crescenzi followed by a kill from Travis ended the set in FSC's favor 25-23.
 
The fourth set was closer in the beginning but the Falcons still opened up a 16-11 lead early in the period.  Both teams traded runs throughout the rest of the set but the Falcons held the upper hand taking home a 25-19 victory.
 
The fifth set saw the Mocs flip the script and open the set with a 4-0 run. The Falcons quickly responded with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the set. Both teams traded points but the Falcons led 8-7 when they flipped sides. Montevallo scored the opening point after the switch but then the Mocs went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-9 lead. The Falcons responded with five-straight of their own to force the first match point of the night at 14-13. A kill by Barton tied the set at 14 and then a ball handling error gave the Mocs their first match point of the day at 15-14. Formilan closed out the match with a service ace as the Mocs won 16-14.
 
The Mocs will return to action Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. as the Saint Leo Lions visit Jenkins Field House for Throwback Night.
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