Box Score
Valdosta, Ga. – After being down 1-0, the Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (6-11) rallied back to down Alabama-Huntsville, 3-1, in the opening match at the Wingate by Wyndham Crossover Classic Friday morning in the PE Complex.
“Any win is a great win,” said head coach Steve Wilcosky. “In this particular season, coming off last weekend with a tough loss to Tampa, it was motivation and individually to build off that and get back into that win column.”
The Sharks, who hit at .287, the second best of their season, was led by senior Paola Ruiz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) who tied her career high with 19 kills in the four-game match hitting .375. Junior Anabely Escarpita (Boca Raton, Fla.) also recorded double-digit kills with 16 hitting a season best .324.
“Paola is that type of player,” said Wilcosky. “She can take over a match when she is in her grove. I thought today was a great balance of her mental focus and to create shots. She was finding the open areas on the court and playing a more complete game instead of what she normally does which is power, power, power.”
NSU held UAH to a .124 attack percentage, while out digging and out blocking the Chargers, 69-57 and 7.0 to 3.0, respectively.
In set one, the Sharks outhit the Chargers, .233 to .174 but eight service errors was the downfall for NSU as they dropped set one, 25-21.
In set two, the Sharks went on rampage to take a commanding 5-1 lead forcing UAH to call a timeout. Ruiz opened with a monster kill that gave the Sharks its first point of the frame. The Sharks scored four straight points led by a Ruiz kill and an Escarpita and Molly Sigerich (Jr., Downers Grove, Ill.) block.
On another 4-0 run, Ruiz once again was the Sharks point person as she downed two of her nine kills in the rally. Ruiz hit an outstanding .818 in the second set.
At 16-12, Escarpita extended the Sharks lead with a massive kill out of the reach of a UAH defender. Sigerich and Rachel Woodson (So., Rogers, Ark.) combined for a block to put NSU up by eight, 23-15. On the block, Sigerich tied Irene Girgis for fifth all-time on NSU's career block list with 219.
Evened at one apiece, the Sharks went down early on a 4-0 run by the Chargers to make it 7-4. Down 11-7, NSU rallied with four straight points to even it at 11. A service ace by Jordan Pappas (So., Naperville, Ill.) gave the Sharks its first lead since they were up at 3-2.
At 19-18, Sigerich took sole possession of the fifth place on the block list as she teamed up with Pappas to extend NSU's lead by two.
“It shows a true test of her (Sigerich) character,” said Wilcosky. “She is battling a little bit of sickness right now and for to come out with the performance that she gave is what we needed. She pushed herself and continued to be a leader on this team is a true test of her character.”
The Sharks ended the third set on a 4-0 run to win 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead.
“For the last week and a half, we have been really working on the tempo of our game,” said Wilcosky. “When I think you start understanding the flow and tempo in volleyball, it begins to just happen instead of forcing things.”
Opening up the fourth set, Woodson and Sigerich blocked the UAH attack to win the opening point. From that point on, the Sharks were on a roll dominating to a 25-17 victory.
Escarpita finished with 16 kills, six coming in the fourth set alone. Up 7-4, Escarpita got three of the next four points on kills.
The Sharks will continue play in the Wingate by Wyndham Crossover Classic playing its second match later today at 4 p.m. against West Georgia. Fans can follow NSU throughout the day on twitter at www.twitter.com/nsuvball.
“The biggest challenge about the next match is just to be there,” said Wilcosky. “The thing about volleyball is that you are going to play two matches in a day, especially in the NCAA tournament and you have to be physically ready to play. I always believed we are the better conditioned team and I have no doubt we will come out and play well again.
Find live stats for each match by clicking HERE.
