Moccasins Fall In Upset Bid Versus No. 1 Spartans

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College volleyball team returned to action for the first time in 11 days due to numerous setbacks related to the two hurricanes that impacted Florida over the past few weeks. The Moccasins did not get an easy opponent to get back in action against as the top-ranked Spartans of the University of Tampa traveled to Lakeland to put their perfect record on the line. The Mocs put up a strong fight but the Spartans were able to come away with the 3-1 victory.
 
The loss drops FSC's record to 8-3 overall while it marks the first conference loss for the Mocs as they fall to 2-1. The Spartans improved to 11-0 on the year and 3-0 in league play.
 
Seniors Kiersten Kraus and Madison Fowler led the Moccasin effort Wednesday night as the pair each tallied a team-best 10 kills in the match. Kraus nearly picked up her first triple-double of the season as she finished with 10 kills, 11 assists and nine digs. She also added a service ace as well. Fowler had an efficient night as she tallied her 10 kills on just 16 swings with one error for a .563 hitting percentage. She added a pair of blocks as well as a dig to her total.
 
Senior Zoe Lowe just missed out on double-figures as she had nine kills in the loss while adding three blocks. Senior Sandra Sasaki finished with eight kills while graduate student Mackenzie Petermann chipped in seven kills. Petermann also dug up nine balls to finish tied for second on the team.
 
Sophomore setter Mary Kate Mulvaney led the team with 19 assists while digging up eight balls. Graduate student libero Caroline Chambers led the backline with 12 digs while also handing out seven assists. Junior Morgan Word led the blocking effort with five total blocks including two solo.
 
Nathaly Perez led the Tampa effort with a match-high 19 kills while Tess Schrenger and Meghan Schreck each tallied eight kills.
 
The Spartans took the opening set 25-18 before the Mocs rebounded and won the second set 25-23. The Spartans closed out the match with back-to-back 25-18 third and fourth sets.
 
FSC hit .150 in the match including just .095 in the three sets the Mocs lost. Tampa countered with a .283 hitting percentage while committing seven fewer hitting errors. The Spartans edged the Mocs in blocks 10-9 while also slightly winning the dig battle 53-50.
 
Florida Southern will be back in action this Friday, October 18 as the Mocs host #21 Barry for another Sunshine State Conference contest. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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