Box Score MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (8-4, 3-0 SSC) is off to its best start since 2007 after defeating the Florida Tech Panthers (5-6, 0-3 SSC), 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-15), in a three-set sweep Friday.
Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) led the way with a team-high 12 kills, followed by Natalie Melcher (Fr., Rishton Letzion, Israel) with nine kills. Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami, Fla.) collected seven kills and a team-best 13 digs. Caitlin Donahue (Jr., Miami, Fla.) joined the party with two kills of her own while Devyn Main (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.) contributed with one kill.
The offense ran through the consistent play of Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colo.) who tallied a total of 26 assists while also playing a key role defensively with 11 digs.
In the opening set, the Sharks silenced the crowd of 979 fans with a 25-20 set victory over the Panthers. While the Panthers had 14 kills of their own, the Sharks battled and earned the first set with 10 kills on 33 attempts. The Panthers' nine errors proved costly, as the Sharks took the momentum into the second set.
The Panthers came to play in the second set, as they held a two to three point lead over the Sharks for most of the set. Florida Tech's momentum was put to rest after a four-point run from the Sharks that tied the second set at 19 apiece. The Sharks never looked back, as they took the second set 25-23, which was ended by a smashing kill from Cook that took one bounce inside the court and quickly found itself in the middle of the quiet Panthers crowd.
The third set was all Blue and Grey, as NSU jumped out to an 9-2 lead. The set was smooth sailing for the Sharks from there, with Florida Tech not coming within six points of the streaking visitors. 11 kills and 11 Panther errors gave the Sharks the sweep and their best start to Sunshine State Conference since 2007.
The win rung with déjà vu, as the last 3-0 start in SSC play came on Sept. 26, 2007, seven years to the date, with a win at Florida Tech.
The Sharks will continue their road trip with a Saturday match at Lynn in Boca Raton, Fla. at 2 p.m.
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