Box Score

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Despite taking the No. 5 Tampa Spartans to five sets, the Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (5-11, 2-6 SSC) dropped its fourth straight conference match Saturday at The Arena in the Don Taft University Center.

The Sharks fought back winning the second and third sets, 26-24 and 25-19, respectively, as Tampa (14-3, 6-1 SSC) took sets one, four and five, 25-16, 25-17 and 15-13.

Sophomore Rachel Woodson (Rogers, Ark.) had a match high 18 kills, also tying her career high and sophomore Jordan Pappas dished out 53 assists. Junior Molly Sigerich (Downers Grove, Ill.) and senior Paola Ruiz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) both recorded double-digit kills with 14. Ruiz also shattered her previous career high in digs as she had 24. Senior libero Kathleen Yony dug 29 balls, despite limited time in the fifth set due to injury.

Going in as the underdog, the Sharks played as they had nothing to lose and were just short of knocking off the No. 5 team in the nation.

After a slow start in the first set, NSU quickly rebounded winning a tight set in game two.

With the score tied at 9-9 in the second set, the Sharks put together two straight points on a kill by Woodson and a solo block by Sigerich, forcing Tampa to use its first timeout.

The Spartans went on a 4-0 run after the break before head coach Steve Wilcosky used NSU's first timeout.

Although Tampa was up by six at 20-14, the Sharks slowing put points on the board closing the gap to two, 21-19. Back-to-back kills by freshman Samantha High (Naples, Fla.) and Woodson evened the score at 23. A block by High and Sigerich on the following play would put the Sharks at set point. Tampa would even it back up but Woodson slammed back-to-back kills, to take the set, 26-24 and even the match up at 1-1.

The Sharks would take the 2-1 lead holding one of nation's offensive team to a .088 attack percentage. Nova never lost the lead again after being down early 3-2. Ruiz would lead the charge registering six kills in the victory and even closed out the set with a service ace.

With Tampa outscoring the Sharks, 25-17, in the fourth set, the fifth would be the deciding factor. Nova Southeastern was up 9-6 as the Sharks went on a 4-0 run before Tampa called a timeout and squashed their momentum to pull within one at 11-10. Ahead at 13-12, the Sharks could feel the win at the tip of their fingertips but Tampa rallied to win the next three points and eventually pulled out the victory.

Nova Southeastern will head north to Valdosta, Ga. to participate in the Valdosta State Regional Crossover, Oct. 15 and 16.