Mocs Drop Contest At Home To #21 Barry

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College volleyball team faced its second-straight nationally-ranked opponent as the 21^st-ranked Barry University Buccaneers visited George W. Jenkins Field House Friday night. The Moccasins fought the entire match but the Buccaneers were able to escape with a 3-0 victory.
 
The loss drops FSC's record to 8-4 on the season and an even 2-2 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Buccaneers improved to 11-1 overall and 4-1 in league action.
 
The opening set began with both teams trading points as neither team secured more than a two point lead over the opening 24 points. With the set tied 12-12, the Buccaneers began a 5-0 run which opened up the largest lead of the night at that point in the match. The Mocs tried to respond by scoring three of the next four points. Barry turned up the heat once again with a 6-1 run which forced the first set point of the evening at 24-16. The Mocs were able to fight off one set point but a Barry kill ended the set 25-17.
 
The second set was very similar to the first as the Mocs led 12-10 before a 7-2 run by the Buccaneers swung the momentum to Barry's side at 17-14. A few points later with the Bucs leading 21-18, the Mocs began a 6-2 run of their own to force their first set point of the night at 24-23. A Barry kill followed by an FSC attack error flipped the script and gave Barry their first set point of the period, 25-24. Senior Zoe Lowe answered with a kill to even the set at 25-all but a service error followed by a Barry kill ended the set 27-25.
 
The third set followed the same script as the opening two sets as the Mocs found themselves ahead 13-12 after the first 25 points. Once again the Buccaneers found a grove in the middle stages of the set and began a 7-2 run which opened up a 19-15 advantage. The Moccasins continued to battle and eventually cut the lead to just one at 23-22 but a Barry block followed by a kill ended the set and match, 25-22.
 
Senior Sandra Sasaki was the lone Moccasin in double-figures as she tallied 10 kills on the night while adding a service ace and dig to her line. Graduate student Mackenzie Petermann finished just behind with nine kills while also picking up nine digs. Three other Moccasin hitters finished with four kills each.
 
Senior setter/outside hitter Kiersten Kraus finished with 12 assists, 11 digs, four kills and a pair of blocks. Sophomore setter Mary Kate Mulvaney led the team with 13 assists while adding three digs. Graduate student libero Caroline Chambers led the backline with 14 digs while also serving up two aces.   
 
The Buccaneers were led by Diana Akopova who tallied 17 kills, five blocks, six digs and a service ace.
 
Florida Southern will be back in action this Monday, October 21 as the Moccasins travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. to face the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish in a match that was previously postponed due to Hurricane Milton. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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