Mocs Fall in Battle with #1 Spartans

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern volleyball team welcomed in top-ranked University of Tampa for the Moccasins' Sunshine State Conference home opener Friday night in front of a boisterous crowd. The Mocs were unable to pull off the upset of the defending National Champions as the Spartans took the match 3-0.
 
The loss drops Florida Southern's record to 5-4 on the season including 0-2 in SSC action. The Spartans improved to a perfect 8-0 including 1-0 in league play.
 
Senior Ali Travis and junior Mackenzie Petermann led the offensive effort with nine kills each for the Mocs. Graduate student Emma Shaddix was not far behind with eight kills of her own. Freshman Morgan Word was able to put down six kills on just 12 swings while finishing with a team-best .417 hitting percentage. Word added a team-best three blocks including two solo along with a team-high two service aces. Petermann just missed out on a double-double as she finished with nine digs to go along with her nine kills.
 
Graduate student libero Beatrice Formilan and sophomore Zoe Lowe tied for the team-lead in digs with 16 each while senior setter Mika Garza finished with 29 assists and 12 digs in the loss.
 
The Spartans had two hitters reach double-figures including Nathaly Perez who had a team-best 14 kills and Kalli Cors who finished with 10.
 
The Spartans won in straight-sets 25-17, 25-18, 25-17. The Spartans out-hit the Mocs .257 to .099 while out-blocking the hosts 8-3.
 
Florida Southern will hit the road for its next two conference contests as the Mocs will next be in action Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. as they travel to Florida Tech.
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