BOX SCORE

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s volleyball team (3-12, 1-5) was defeated in four sets (23-25, 25-19, 25-12 25-20) by Florida Southern (9-5, 4-2) Saturday afternoon at Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Fla.
 
Despite falling behind early to the Mocs, the Sharks battled back in the first set and opened up a 9-7 lead that forced a Florida Southern timeout. Out of the break, the Mocs took control, winning the next five points to go ahead 12-9.
 
Danielle Graham (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) evened the match, 16-16, with a well-placed kill for the Sharks. Graham gave the Sharks the lead, 22-21, with a quick kill placed in left-front corner and again at 24-23 with one directly in the center of the court.
 
Samantha High (So., Naples, Fla.) capped the set for the Sharks with her third kill.
 
With the Mocs up 10-6 in the early stages of the second set, Graham rose up to notch the Sharks second block of the match. Florida Southern though maintained momentum and opened up a five-point advantage, 13-8, that brought a Sharks timeout.
 
Despite a late kill from High, the Mocs pulled away to a 25-19 set victory.
 
Florida Southern took six of the first seven points of the third set to force an early Sharks timeout. Despite a late kill and solo block from Graham, the Mocs cruised to a 25-12 set win.
 
The Sharks opened the fourth set with a solid block from Graham and Rachel Woodson (Jr., Rogers, Ark.) and pushed the lead to 4-2 with another from Graham and Kristina Eric (So., Sokolac, Bosnia). Anabely Escarpita (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla.) entered the match and made an immediate impact, tallying two kills to build the NSU lead to three, 7-4.
 
The Mocs built a small 9-8 lead, but a Molly Sigerich (Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.) and Lauren Lewkowicz (Fr., Coral Springs, Fla.) block tied the match. Woodson would score two late kills for NSU, but it was not enough as the Sharks fell 25-20 in the set and 3-1 in the match.
 
Diana Castrillion led all attackers with 16 kills for Florida Southern, while Graham finished with nine to pace the Sharks. Graham also helped the Sharks out-blocked the Mocs, 8-7, recording two solo and assisting on four others.

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