Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (1-2) won its first match of the season and split a doubleheader Saturday, defeating New Haven, 3-2, after falling in a close five-set match to Lewis. 

New Haven

NSU battled from two sets down to win the final match of the weekend over New Haven, 3-2 (19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-9). The comeback 3-2 win over New Haven marked the Shark's first win of the season and head coach Jenn King's first NSU career win. 

"It feels really good! This goes well for the future and I'm excited for this to be the start of my Shark career. Hopefully we can continue bringing good things to the family," stated King. 

The Sharks held an early 6-4 lead in the first set against the Chargers after a kill by Caitlin Donahue (Jr., Miami, Fla.). New Haven took the lead after a Sharks error and back-to-back hits by Kristen Lee and Alex Bussey. NSU trailed for the rest of the set, with New Haven closing the game at 25-19.

Both teams tied the second round 10 times and exchanged the lead twice before New Haven won, 25-21. The last tie of the game was at 17 until three Charger kills put them up, 19-17. The Sharks regrouped after the second set to win the next three and take the match, 3-2. 

The Sharks held a season-high 79% hit percentage to win the third set, 25-23. Two straight kills by Donahue and Courtney Crawford (Jr., Brooksville, Fla.) followed by a serving ace from Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami, Fla.) gave the Sharks an early 9-3 lead. The Chargers threatened to take the lead after tying the set at 22, but an ace from Donahue and back-to-back points again from Donahue and Crawford provided the extra three needed to take the set win. 

The Sharks stole the momentum and tied the match with a fourth-set win, 25-18. Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.), who had eight total hits in the game, posted two-straight kills to push NSU up, 11-5. Two of Cook's five set kills came in the last two points of the round with back-to-back slams down the middle to close the set and tie the match at two.

Cook ended the fourth set and started the fifth hot to give the Sharks an early 2-0 lead. Three Chargers errors put the Sharks up, 5-2. A Crawford hit in the game, followed by a service ace from Cook, gave the Sharks a five-point lead at 7-2. The team kept the lead throughout the rest of the set, with the Chargers only coming in within three at 9-6. Cook finished the set, hitting three of her four K's in the last three points of the match. 

Both Cook and Holger posted double-doubles in the match. Cook led the team with 20 kills at .319, 14 digs, six blocks and 25 points. Holger followed closely with 19 Ks at .333, 12 digs and one block. Donahue also hit in double digits, notching 12 K's at .423 and two digs. Katie Pyles held the team up for the match and posted 51 assists. Candice Johnson (Sr., Chuluota, Fla.) was stellar in the back, posting 29 digs and three assists. 
 

Lewis

In the opening match of the day, NSU lost a tight battle against Lewis, 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 13-15).

The Sharks held a 66% attack percentage to defeat the Great Lakes Valley Conference champions in the first set, 25-23. Back-to-back points from Holger and a service ace from Crawford pushed the Sharks to their biggest lead in the game at 17-14. NSU kept the lead for the rest of the game, as Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colo.) slammed one down the middle to close the game, 25-23.

In the second set, the Sharks fought for the lead the whole game, tying Lewis nine times and leading several times midway through the set. Lewis came out swinging, taking an early 3-8 lead. However, the Sharks made it a toss-up set, when two straight Lewis errors tied the match at 11 apiece. NSU looked to take a two-set lead, when an attack error put the Sharks up, 20-17, but Lewis went on a six point run to flip the difference. Lewis would go on to win the set by four points.

The Flyers carried their experience and momentum into the third set, winning by their largest margin at 25-17. The majority of the set was much closer than the final indicated, as NSU only trailed by two points midway through the frame, 14-12. However, Lewis ripped off an 8-1 run, with only two errors on NSU, to give the Flyers a decisive lead. Lewis had a 10-point lead on their first set point, but the Sharks fought for every point despite the deficit.

The final set was a heartbreaker for Shark fans in attendance, but possibly the most thrilling set of the tournament. Lewis came out to a four-point lead early, but attack errors and kills from Holger and Pyles tied the game at 11 all. The Flyers took two out of the next three points to set up match point, but the Sharks stayed alive with a huge solo block from Cook. However, Lewis would close the Sharks out at 15-13 on the next point.

Overall in the match, Holger led the Sharks with 17 kills on 52 attacks, while Pyles collected 13 kills and 34 assists. Johnson had a team-best 19 digs.

The Sharks will take a short break before returning to action at Palm Beach Atlantic Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.

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