Miami Shores, Fla. (September 22, 2007) - The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team swept Barry University 3-0 by the scores of 33-31, 30-19 and 30-23 on Saturday evening, marking the first time in the 23 match series history that the Sharks have defeated the Buccaneers. The win, NSU's eighth in a row, continues the program's longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history and brings their overall record to 13-4. The win brought the Sharks record to 3-0 in Sunshine State Conference play, which is also the best start in program history. Barry falls to 6-9, 0-2 SSC on the season.

NSU rallied from a 25-20 deficit to win game one, 33-31. Outside hitter Paola Ruiz (Fr., Rio Piedras, P.R.) sparked a seven point Sharks' rally with three consecutive service aces to lead NSU to victory. Barry out-hit NSU .170 to .167, but the Sharks tallied five blocks, including two solo from middle blocker Melinda Gorman (Jr., Sarasota, Fla.).

Middle Emily Carle (Jr., Missouri City, Tex.) and Ruiz paced the Sharks' attack with five kills apiece in game one. Setter Valia Petrova (Jr., Sofia, Bulgaria) dished out 14 assists and recorded six digs. Barry's Camilla Pagnan had a game high nine kills.

The Sharks came out and dominated game two, hitting. 250 to win, 30-19. NSU posted six more blocks in the game, including three from Petrova. Nova Southeastern limited Barry to a -.065 attack percentage and only one block. Carle and opposite Aley Tallman (So., Wichita, Kan.) each tied for the team lead with three kills in game two for NSU. Pagnan led the Buccaneers with three kills.

A determined Sharks' team closed out the sweep with a 30-23 victory in game three. NSU out-hit Barry .205 to .078. The Sharks also set a season high with 7.5 blocks in the final game vs. the Buccaneers. Ruiz and Gorman each had three kills to tie for the team lead. Petrova tallied seven more assists while Gorman had four blocks and Carle, Christina Chubb (Jr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Petrova had three apiece. Pagnan once again led Barry with seven kills.

The Sharks recorded 27 block assists in the match, breaking the 14 year old record of 24 set on October 29th, 1993 vs. Flagler College. The 18.5 total blocks also sets a new season high for the Sharks and finishes second in the all-time record books, behind the 19.5 block performance set on October 23rd, 2004 vs. Rollins College. Gorman led NSU with eight blocks in the match, followed by Carle, Petrova, Tallman with six and Chubb with five.

For the match, NSU out-hit Barry .196 to .078. Carle and Ruiz led NSU with nine kills apiece, followed by Tallman with eight and Chubb and Gorman with five. Petrova had a team high 30 assists and 12 digs for the Sharks.

Pagnon led Barry with 19 kills while libero Lauren Evans tallied 22 digs.

The Sharks play on the road vs. Florida Tech on Wednesday, September 26th at 7pm in Melbourne, Fla. The match can be heard live on the NSU Athletics Audiocast Network.