BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Florida Southern College volleyball team (12-13, 6-11 SSC) fell to 19th-ranked Lynn University in straight sets on Friday night at the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center, with scores of 25-15, 25-19, and 25-12.
Lynn (19-8, 9-8 SSC) recorded a match-high hitting percentage of .556 in the final set against the Mocs.
Florida Southern began the first set with an initial point due to a bad set by Laney Wilson from Lynn. However, service errors from the Moccasins allowed the Fighting Knights to remain competitive early. Despite a successful block by senior
Morgan Word that contributed to a brief lead, FSC struggled to maintain momentum as the set progressed.
Lynn then capitalized on a series of Florida Southern attack errors and efficient play from Hope Passerello, who consistently set up her teammates for successful kills. This allowed Lynn to extend their advantage in the middle of the set. The Mocs responded with kills from freshmen
Whitney Mall and
Drew Page, narrowing the gap slightly, but Lynn continued to pull away.
Towards the end of the set, Florida Southern attempted to rally with a service ace from freshman
Payton Nazzari and a kill by junior
Nicole Russell. However, Lynn's Brooke Jackson closed the set with key plays, cementing a 25-15 score to conclude the set.
In the second set, Lynn built early momentum with a series of points, capitalizing on a bad set from sophomore
Nako Sasaki and kills from Wilson and Jackson, establishing a 4-0 lead. Florida Southern responded with a service error from Lynn and a kill by junior
Tori Borton, narrowing the gap to 5-3. However, Lynn continued to apply pressure, extending their advantage to 9-4 with additional kills from Nadia Rossi and Jackson.
Florida Southern attempted a comeback with contributions from Word and freshman
Bailey Blackburn, reducing the deficit to 12-9. Lynn maintained control through consistent offensive execution, despite Florida Southern's defensive efforts resulting in blocks and kills to stay within striking distance at 17-14. Ultimately, Lynn secured the set 25-19 after a kill by Jackson and a block that ended the set.
The Mocs began the third set with an early advantage, as Borton delivered a kill assisted by freshman
Brielle Mullen, putting the visiting team on the scoreboard first. However, Lynn quickly responded and capitalized on several attack errors from FSC, building a lead that increased as the set progressed.
Despite efforts from the Mocs, with Mall and junior
Catherine Sweeney contributing key kills, Lynn maintained control throughout the set. Lynn's consistent offensive pressure, highlighted by Alexia Radulovic's multiple kills, extended their lead significantly.
As the set concluded, Lynn continued to press forward, widening the gap with effective attacks and service aces, eventually closing the set with a 25-12 victory over Florida Southern.
Junior
Elizabeth McDonald recorded six kills and added one block assist, contributing a total of 6.5 points. Borton distributed 12 assists and managed six digs over three sets. Word achieved four kills and three total blocks, amassing six points. Mullen added six assists and led the defense with eight digs.
Passerello orchestrated the offense with precision, delivering 32 assists in three sets. Jackson contributed significantly, recording 12 kills on a .417 hitting percentage and adding 10 digs on defense. Rossi was efficient at the net, achieving a .611 hitting percentage with 12 kills and two block assists. Clara Maidantchik anchored the back row, leading the team with 15 digs.
Looking ahead, the Moccasins will face Barry on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. at the Health & Sports Center in Miami Shores, Florida.
