FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern women’s volleyball team (4-13, 1-6) will host the No. 2 ranked Tampa Spartans (15-0, 6-0) Sat., Oct. 8. First serve is slated for 4 p.m. at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center.

The Sharks are coming off their second 3-0 win of the season after downing the visiting Griffins from Seton Hill Thursday night. The match against Tampa will be the sixth match in 10 days for NSU.

Danielle Graham (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) has provided a much-needed spark on offense for the Sharks, racking up 35 kills, while attacking at a .402 clip, during the Sharks last two matches. Anabely Escarpita (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla.) and Molly Sigerich (Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.)  have contributed significantly during the previous two matches also as Escarpita has tallied 21 kills and six total blocks, while Sigerich has accumulated 19 kills and eight total blocks.

Jordan Pappas (Jr., Naperville, Ill.) has been the catalyst for the improved attacking of the Sharks as the primary setter this week. On Tuesday against Florida Tech she recorded a season-high 48 assists and followed it up with 31 more on Thursday against Seton Hill. Paige Boivin (Plainfield, Ill.) has kept numerous rallies alive for the Sharks, registering over 20 digs in the Sharks’ previous three matches.

The Spartans will come into Saturday’s contest as the second-ranked team nationally. Tampa is currently 15-0, 6-0 SSC and will visit Florida Tech Friday evening, before arriving in Fort Lauderdale Saturday.

Tampa entered the week as the leader of six statistical categories as a team in the SSC. The Spartans currently average 14.9 kills per set, while holding opponents to 11.2. Tampa and NSU are currently the top two ranked teams in the SSC in blocks per set at 2.3 and 2.1, respectively.

Danielle Selkridge paces the Spartans with a 3.65 kills per set average and a .540 hitting percentage. Selkridge also leads Tampa in blocks per set with a 0.92 average, edging teammate Meagan Burke who averages 0.91.

In 2010, the Sharks took the then No. 5 Spartans to five sets at home before falling in heartbreaking fashion, 15-13, in the decisive set. 

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