Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (11-13, 4-8 SSC) tops the Florida Tech Panthers (9-18, 1-11 SSC), 3-2 (21-25, 28-26, 25-22, 20-25, 15-12), in dramatic fashion in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colo.) notched a double-double in the match with 10 kills and a season-high 48 assists.
Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) was one short of a double-double with a team-high 18 kills and nine digs, followed by
Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami, Fla.), who posted a season-high .355 hitting percentage with 17 kills.
Candice Johnson (Sr., Chuluota, Fla.) was stellar on defense with a career-high 30 digs.
In the opening set, both teams fought for the first marginal lead of the match before the Panthers advanced, 13-10, on three errors. Florida Tech was able to stay atop until the Sharks took the side out and tied the game at 16 on a 3-1 run off kills from Pyles and Holger and an error. However, the Panthers would make the comeback at 19-16 with a three-point rally that would propel to the finish, 25-21.
NSU took the first big lead of the second set at 17-11 on a 6-2 rally off three kills, two service aces and an FIT error. The Sharks stayed in the lead, with .385 hitting percentage throughout the set, until FIT created a battle on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 22. The points bounced back and fourth between the two teams into extra points, with kills by Holger and Cook keeping the Sharks in the game.
Natalie Melcher (Fr., Reshon Letzion, Israel), closed the set on two massive back-to-back kills to tie the match at one, winning 28-26.
The Sharks took an early 12-8 lead in the third set and held the Panthers to a .111 hitting percentage. Florida Tech would come within two points at 20-18, but Melcher ended their three-point rally on a clutch kill. Back-to-back attacks by Pyles and Melcher put the Sharks up by four again, 23-19. The Panthers came back within two, 24-22, but an FIT error allowed the Sharks to close the set, 25-22.
The momentum changed sides in the fourth set, as the Sharks opened with an early 9-7 lead. The Panthers came from behind and took the lead on a four-point rally from three service aces and one kill. NSU was able to tie the set three more times on kills by Melcher and Holger and four errors, but FIT took the side out at 18 and did not look back. The Panthers closed the set on a devastating kill, winning 25-20.
The Sharks were determined to take the match win in the final set. NSU took an early lead and allowed FIT to tie four times but followed threw to keep the lead. With the final tie at eight, the Sharks broke away from FIT off three errors to create a two-point margin that would keep the Panthers away. Pyles perfectly closed the match on a service ace, sealing a 15-12 win that ended the day.
The Sharks will continue home SSC play on Friday, Nov. 11, hosting Florida Southern at 7 p.m.
