Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (August 26, 2007) - The Nova Southeastern University volleyball program dropped a pair of matches in day two of the 2nd annual NSU Sharks Volleyball Classic, falling 3-0 at the hands of #16 Washburn University (K.S.) and 3-1 to Augustana College (S.D.). The two defeats evens the Sharks record at 2-2 for the season while Washburn improves to 4-0.
#16 Washburn came out firing in game one, hitting a scolding .395 with only two errors to win 30-16. Outside hitter Stephanie Nitz led the charge for the Lady Blues, scoring seven kills on only ten attempts. Setter Valia Petrova (Jr., Sofia, Bulgaria) and outside hitter Andrea Irarrazabal (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) paced NSU with three kills apiece in the opening stanza.
Stephanie Nitz once again led Washburn with five kills in the second game, as the Lady Blues pulled away for a 30-14 victory. Outside hitter Christina Chubb (Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) recorded three kills for the Sharks.
The Sharks responded in the third game, taking the lead at multiple times, before falling 30-27. Irarrazabal and outside hitter Paola Ruiz (Fr., Rio Piedras, P.R.) each scored four kills while Petrova dished out 13 assists in the game. Libero Kathleen Yony (Fr., Miami, Fla.) posted six digs to lead NSU in the final game.
For the match, Washburn hit .331 as a team while NSU posted a .057 attack percentage.
Irarrazabal led NSU with seven kills, followed by Chubb with six. Petrova had a team high 19 assists and 12 digs in the match.
The Sharks started out strong in their second match vs. the Augustana College Vikings, winning game one 30-25. NSU hit a match high .364 in the game, led by Ruiz and Irarrazabal with four kills apiece.
Augustana rebounded to take the second game to even the match at one game apiece. Outside hitter Cayla Schroeder fired a match high eight kills in the game for the Vikings while Chubb led the Sharks with four.
Game three was tight throughout, and a key referee reversal led to the Vikings 31-29 victory. With the match tied at 29 apiece, NSU middle Emily Carle (Jr., Missouri City, Texas) was awarded a kill for a ball hit down the line only to have the call reversed by the head official and the point awarded to the Vikings.
Chubb led all players with eight kills and eight digs in the third game.
Game four was also tight throughout, but the Vikings were able to come away with the 30-27 win. Gorman and Chubb paced the Sharks attack with five kills apiece.
For the match NSU hit .206 while Augustana hit .247 but did outscore the Vikings 82 to 75 in points scored. NSU recorded six more kills, seven more assists, and three more aces than their opposition in the loss.
Chubb led all players with a season high 19 kills, followed by Ruiz with 12 and Gorman with 11. Petrova contributed with 46 assists, six kills, and nine digs for the Sharks.
NSU competes next in Austin, Texas on August 31st and September 1st to participate in the St. Edwards University volleyball tournament.
