Tampa, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2009) - The Nova Southeastern volleyball lost to Eckerd in four sets in the NCAA Division II Volleyball South Regional in action on Thursday evening in Tampa. The loss concludes the Sharks season at 19-11. Eckerd advances to the South Regional semifinals and improves to 19-11.

The Sharks started slow out of the gates in the first set, trailing the Tritons 10-1. NSU slowly worked their way back and eventually overtook the lead to win 25-22. Senior All-America setter Valia Petrova (Sofia, Bulgaria) led the way with four kills, eight assists and four digs. Junior outside hitter Lucia Cizmarova (Bratislava, Slovak Republic) also had four kills.

NSU fell behind early once again in the second set, trailing 8-2. Even though the Sharks closed to within one point at 18-17, it was not enough as they lost 25-21. Cizmarova led the Sharks with five kills while sophomore outside hitter Molly Sigerich (Downers Grove, Ill.) followed with four kills.

A third set marathon resulted in a 35-33 loss for the Sharks. NSU hit .391 as a team and posted 23 kills in the set. Cizmarova and Sigerich had seven kills apiece as the Sharks fought off numerous Triton set points. SSC Freshman of the Year Carly Perschnick (Dwight, Ill.) had five kills in the set.

Eckerd put the Sharks away by hitting .560 as a team in the 25-20 match clinching fourth set. Sigerich posted five more kills while senior Jenerra McGruder (Euless, Tex.) had four kills. For the match, Eckerd out-hit NSU .336 to .243. The Tritons also had four more total blocks.

Cizmarova led the Sharks and had a career high 19 kills. She hit .368 and also had seven digs and two blocks. Sigerich was right behind with 18 kills and a .351 attack percentage. She also had a team five blocks. Junior libero Kathleen Yony (Miami, Fla.) registered a match high 14 digs.

The match concluded the collegiate careers of Petrova, McGruder and defensive specialist Alison Kalish (Miami, Fla.). Petrova, a second-team All-SSC selection, concluded the match with four kills, 48 assists, ten digs, two blocks and an ace. McGruder had nine kills, five digs and an ace. Kalish tallied an ace, an assist and two digs.

Taylor Manning led Eckerd with 14 kills.