Mocs Win Rematch with Eagles Monday Night

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern volleyball team met the Embry-Riddle Eagles for the second-straight match but this time the contest took place in Lakeland and the Moccasins were able to avenge Saturday afternoon's 3-0 loss in Daytona Beach with a 3-1 victory over the Eagles inside Jenkins Field House. The two teams were forced to play back-to-back contests due to Hurricane Ian passing through the state earlier this season. New tropical weather looks to be playing a factor in the Mocs' remaining schedule as Palm Beach Atlantic has cancelled all its events this week including its trip to Lakeland on Thursday.
 
The victory Monday night improved the Mocs record to 15-13 overall and 8-10 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Eagles fell to 17-12 on the season and 8-10 in league play.
 
Junior Mackenzie Petermann led the way once again as she tallied a team-best 15 kills while digging up 14 balls for her seventh double-double of the year. Both seniors Ali Travis and Jana Gilic finished second on the squad with 11 kills each. Travis added 13 digs, three blocks and two service aces. The double-double marked the seventh of the season for the Loveland, Colo. native. Gilic chipped in a season-high tying five digs, a service ace and four blocks including one solo.
 
Graduate student Emma Shaddix and sophomore Madison Fowler each added eight kills to the effort. Shaddix chipped in a team-best three service aces including the clinching ace which ended the fourth set and the match. She also assisted on three blocks. Fowler led the team with five blocks on the night while also picking up three digs.
 
Graduate student libero Beatrice Formilan finished with 23 digs in the victory while senior setter Mika Garza dished out 45 assists while digging up 14 balls for her 10th double-double of the season including in the last four matches. Sophomore Zoe Lowe also made the most of her backline play as she dug up 14 balls in the win.
 
FSC hit .193 as a team including a match-high .306 in the opening set. The Eagles hit just .152 with 26 errors. FSC won the battle in blocks 9-8 but the Eagles edged the Mocs in digs 89-87.
 
FSC took the opening set in dominating fashion winning the period 25-14 while never trailing. The Mocs went on to fall in the second set 25-20. FSC led 9-4 early in the set but the Eagles slowly chipped away and eventually used a 9-1 run midway through the set to take a 18-13 lead. The Mocs tried to battle back but could never get closer than three points as the Eagles went on for the win. The third set was tight early with the Eagles edging out to a 13-9 lead. A 4-0 run buy the Mocs tied the set at 13 and the two teams began a tight battle down the stretch. Down 16-15, the Mocs began a 9-2 run to take a 24-18 lead. The Eagles fought off two set points before a kill by Shaddix ended the set.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the fourth set but the Mocs would quickly get back into the set and things would remain tight most of the way. Tied 16-16, the Eagles used a 5-1 run to open up a 21-17 lead. A quick 6-1 response by the Mocs turned the table to give FSC a 23-22 lead. After trading the next two points, the Mocs forced their first set point at 24-23. A kill from the Eagles tied the set at 24-24. Travis put the Mocs back on top with a kill of her own at 25-24 but the Eagles fought back once again to tie the set at 25-25. Travis answered the bell once again with a kill to make it 26-25 which put the ball in Shaddix's hand for the serve. Shaddix glanced it off a Embry-Riddle backline player to score the winning ace, 27-25.  
 
With the cancellation of Thursday night's match, the Mocs will be back in action Saturday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. as they host 16th-ranked Barry. The Mocs will honor Garza, Formilan and Shaddix in a pre-match Senior Day ceremony.
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