FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern volleyball team opens up their Sunshine State Conference schedule this weekend at the NSU Arena when they host Eckerd and Florida Southern on back-to-back days.
The Sharks (3-5) look to snap a four-match losing streak on Friday night against Eckerd, a 7 p.m. start. The Tritons are 6-2 and have won five straight – dropping only one set in that span – including winning all three matches during their EC Classic, a showcase NSU also participated in. Last time out, at the Saint Leo Classic on Sept. 20, they swept past Cedarville (Ohio), 25-10, 25-8, 25-18.
Friday night will also feature festivities outside of the match itself. It is another SAAC Shark Night, as student-athletes from other squads will fill the stands. Friday is also a "White Out," so these attendees are encouraged to wear white as they cheer on the team against Eckerd.
In addition, the 2013 rowing squad will have their NCAA DII National Championship banner ceremony, and will be recognized on the floor for their achievements.
The weekend wraps up for the volleyballers on Saturday, at 4 p.m., when Florida Southern comes to town. The Mocs are 8-3 overall, and are 1-0 in the conference, having topped Saint Leo on Sept. 24 by a 3-1 set score. They too have a winning streak of five matches as of now, but that could be extended or snapped as they will face Lynn on Friday night before matching up with the Sharks.
Each of the weekend opponents have a heavy hitter, Eckerd's Lindsay Biggs and Kayshia Brady of FSC. Biggs' 111 kills, 4.27 per set, is first overall in the SSC, while Brady at 2.82 per (107 total), ranks just outside of the top 10. Eckerd also features Katarina Milojevic, whose hitting percentage of .374 ranks second in the conference, while the Mocs' setter, Kendall Marotti, is second in assists at 10.68 per set.
NSU has had 10 days off, match-wise, since falling to Palm Beach Atlantic on their home floor on Sept. 17, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18.
Dana Holger (So., Lino Lakes, Minn.) had the team high that night with 10 kills, while
Sydney Cook (So., Miami) added nine. That duo continues to lead the squad for the season, Cook with 85 and Holger with 83. Those totals rank them fourth and sixth in the SSC, respectively.
Two newcomers,
Katie Pyles (Fr., Denver) and
Candice Johnson (Jr., Chuluota, Fla.) also rank among the league leaders; Pyles in assists and Johnson in digs. Pyles' 184 assists, at 7.36 per set, is fifth in the conference, while Johnson is 10th with 78 digs, three per set. Holger is next in the latter category with 60, while Cook has 52.
Both games will feature live audio and video streaming
HERE, and live stats
HERE.
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