BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern women’s volleyball team (4-20, 1-7 SSC) dropped a pair of non-conference matches in the second day of the Regional Crossover Saturday, first to North Alabama, 1-3 and Palm Beach Atlantic, 0-3 in the nightcap match.

Throughout the day the Sharks came with spurts of offense with Sydney Cook (Fr., Miami, Fla.) and Dana Holger (Fr., Lino Lakes, Minn.), leading the way. Cook rang up 22 kills while Holger put down 15 with 3 solo and 2 block assists to add, defensively. Kristina Eric (Jr., Sokolac, Bosnia), who set for the Sharks, had a total of 66 helpers. Paige Boivin (Sr., Plainfield Ill.) led on the defensive side of the ball with 40 total digs.

In the first match, first set against North Alabama the Sharks came out a little slow allowing the Tigers to maintain a four-point lead to a 13-9 score.  The Sharks battled, bringing a wave of offense to a twenty all tie late in the set.  NSU tried to run with their momentum but fell short 21-25.

The second set appeared to be much of the same format as the first, allowing the Tigers to gain as much as a seven point lead but battled back to a one point deficit midway through.  The Sharks made a late push once again coming within four, 19-23 but were unable to push their way to the top, falling 21-25.

In the third set NSU came out with a purpose, trading the first four points with the Tigers then never looked back. The Sharks scored the fifth point of the game to break the tie and maintain the lead throughout. The tigers looked to rally but the Sharks momentum prevented any sort of a comeback taking the set, 25-20 to advance to a fourth set.

In the fourth the Sharks rode their moment but midway through the Tigers turned the tables. At an eight all tie North Alabama took control, making it very difficult for NSU to rebound.  The Sharks were only able to chalk up nine more points before the Tigers claimed the set, 25-17 as well as the match, 3-0.

In the nightcap against Palm Beach Atlantic the Sailfish controlled most of the tempo in the match starting with the first set. The Sharks started off three in the hole but couldn’t gain any ground on PBA midway through the match still trailing, 12-15. PBA broke away at that point, scoring ten of the remaining 17 total points of the set to win 25-19.

In the second the Sharks fell early but were able to spark some offense to an 11 all tie but weren’t ever able to take the lead. The Sharks hung in and battled to the end but it was the Sailfish who sealed the deal taking the second set, 25-21.

The third set followed suit with the first two with the Sailfish getting out to a small lead and the Sharks grinding to a 15 all tie.  The Sharks rolled with their energy fighting with the sailfish all the way to the wire.  NSU and PBA traded points back and forth in exciting fashion not allowing one to get ahead of the other, resulting in a 24 all tie. The Sharks put in a valiant effort to extend a fourth set but allowed the sailfish to score the remaining two points to close out the set, 26-24 and the match, 3-0.

The Sharks hit the road next weekend, Oct. 27 to Melbourne, Fla. where they will take on the Florida Tech Panthers (14-6, 4-4 SSC) in a Sunshine State Conference tilt. The Sharks swept the Panthers in their last confrontation earlier in the season, 3-0 at home.