Moccasins Sweep AIC in Opening Match of the Year

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College volleyball team started off the 2024 campaign in style as the Moccasins swept the visiting American International Yellow Jackets 3-0 in the Mocs' opening match of the FSC Volleyball Classic.
 
It was a balanced effort for the Moccasins as four hitters finished with six or more kills while three Mocs earned three or more blocks in the victory. FSC was led by graduate transfer Sandra Sasaki who shined in her FSC debut as she tallied nine kills on just 20 swings while also collecting six digs and a service ace. Junior Morgan Word patrolled the middle for the Mocs and finished with eight kills on just 11 swings with one error for an outstanding .636 hitting percentage. She also excelled at the service line with a pair of aces while leading the team in blocks with six including one solo.
 
Graduate student Mackenzie Petermann tallied seven kills in the match while picking up three digs and a block assist. The final member of the six-or-more kills club was senior Zoe Lowe who picked up six kills and a pair of block assists in the victory.
 
Senior Kiersten Kraus and sophomore Mary Kate Mulvaney once again shared the setting duties witj Kraus finishing with 10 assists, three kills, eight digs and five blocks while Mulvaney chipped in 17 assists and two digs. Graduate student libero Caroline Chambers led the team with 13 digs while also picking up five assists and a pair of service aces.
 
Overall, the Mocs hit just .181 as a team but held the Yellow Jackets to .120. FSC won the blocking battle 9-5 as well. Both teams finished with six service aces while AIC edged the Mocs in digs 35-33.
 
FSC nearly led the entire way in the first set. After AIC scored the opening point, FSC picked up back-to-back points to go up 2-1 and the Mocs never trailed the rest of the set eventually capturing a 25-22 victory. The second set looked to be going in the same direction with FSC leading 17-11 but an 11-2 run by the Yellow Jackets nearly spoiled the sweep as AIC led 22-19 after the rally. A service error ended the run and saw the Mocs go on to score five of the final six points of the set to take a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. The third set was all Mocs as the set was tied just once before FSC took a 25-19 victory and a season-opening sweep.
 
FSC is back in action tomorrow with a pair of matches to close out action at the 2024 FSC Volleyball Classic. The Mocs will face Augusta at noon before taking on 14^th-ranked Lewis at 5 p.m.
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