Tampa, Fla. (October 6, 2007) - Nova Southeastern University volleyball fell on the road to defending national champion and #1 nationally ranked University of Tampa in three games by the scores of 30-15, 30-19, and 30-25. The loss ends a program record 11 match winning streak and marks the Sharks first loss in Sunshine State Conference play. NSU now stands at 16-5, 6-1 while Tampa improves to 17-1, 6-0.

The Spartans controlled play in game one, hitting .519 while holding NSU to a .028 attack percentage to win 30-15. The Spartans were successful on 82 percent of side-out points. Right-side Aley Tallman (So., Wichita, Kan.) led the Sharks with three kills while setter Valia Petrova (Jr., Sofia, Bulgaria) added seven assists. Katelin Dixon and Erin Clark led Tampa with four kills apiece.

Tampa continued to dictate play in the second game to win 30-19. The Spartans hit .342 while NSU improved to a .085 percentage. Outside hitters Christina Chubb (Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Andrea Irarrazabal (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) paced the Sharks attack with four kills each. Libero Kathleen Yony (Fr., Miami, Fla.) added four digs. Melissa Vanderhall tallied six kills for the Spartans.

NSU fought to make things interesting in game three before falling 30-25. The Sharks hit a match high .205 and held the Spartans to a match low .290 in the final game. NSU had one more kill than the Spartans, led by Tallman with five. Petrova tallied 11 more assists while middle Melinda Gorman (Jr., Sarasota, Fla.) and Chubb added two blocks apiece. Clark once again led the Spartans with five kills.

For the match NSU was out-hit .375 to .107. The Sharks were without the services of freshman standout Paola Ruiz, (Fr., Rio Piedras, Fla.) who missed the match due to an injury. For the first time in 2007, NSU was held without a service ace.

Tallman and Chubb led all NSU players with eight kills. Petrova recorded 25 assists and tied for the team lead with Yony in digs with eight.

Erin Clark led Tampa with 13 kills in 15 attempts for a .867 attack percentage.

NSU continues on the road, playing conference rival Eckerd College at 4pm on Sunday, October 7th. The match can be heard live on the NSU Athletics Audiocast Network.