GAME 1 BOX - GAME 2 BOX
AIKEN, S.C. – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (1-5) had a tough start to the USC-Aiken volleyball invitational on Friday dropping a pair of matches first to 20
th-ranked Wingate 3-0 and later to No. 15 Flagler 3-1 at the Convocation Center hosted by University of South Carolina at Aiken.
Despite the losses, two Sharks managed to eclipse the 20-kill mark over the course of their two matches. Senior
Danielle Graham (Cincinnati, Ohio) led with 21 kills and added five blocks, while freshman
Sydney Cook (Miami, Fla.) reached 20 after a 12-kill performance against 15
th-ranked Flagler to go along with a team high seven blocks.
Dana Holger (Fr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) added 12 kills and
Caitlin Donahue (Fr., Miami, Fla.) added 11 on the day. Defensively,
Sarah Shifflett (So., Boynton Beach, Fla.) added a team best 34 digs averaging just over 4.0 per set to lead NSU.
NSU faced the undefeated Wingate Bulldogs (5-0) to open the tournament. In the first set, the Sharks played the first 18 points exceptionally well creating four lead changes. The Sharks eventually fell behind dropping the first set 25-20. NSU went on the fall in the final two sets 20-18 and 20-14. As a team, the Bulldogs hit a blistering .314 team percentage, while the Sharks managed to reach .100 for the match.
In the nightcap, the Sharks strung together a trio of their best sets all season while facing their strongest test of the year in the Flagler Saints (4-1). Coming into the tournament, Flagler was undefeated but suffered a five set tournament opening loss to Palm Beach Atlantic. With both teams looking to rebound from their opening performances, their final match of the day went nearly two hours before Flagler eventually won 3-1.
Flagler pulled out a 25-20 win of the first set, but NSU fired back with a 25-22 win of the second to even the match at 1-1. In the third set, the Sharks forced three lead changes and nine tie scores, but the Saints went on an 8-1 run to close out the set 25-23 to take the lead in the match. Flagler finally took the final set 25-18 to win the match.
Graham led NSU with 13 kills, while Cook followed with 12 and four blocks. Shifflett covered the floor defensively for the Sharks and collected a match-high 27 digs, while four other Sharks collected double-digits in digs. Dianna Craine led Flagler with a double-double, 19 kills and 23 digs, while Abby Meyers added 10 kills offensively. Casey Gnann recorded a team-high 25 digs for the Saints.
The Sharks will return to action on Saturday facing Augusta State at 2 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. match against USC-Aiken to close out the tournament before heading back to Fort Lauderdale.
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