FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (9-1, 2-0 SSC) picked up a par of wins on Saturday at the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center over Lynn (7-2, 0-1 SSC) and Flagler (7-2). The Sharks defeated the Fighting Knights 3-0 in a Sunshine State Conference pairing to start the day and closed out the night with a 3-1 win over the Saints.
 
It was an impressive day for the Sharks, not just because they picked up two more wins to start the 2015 season 9-1 – the best start in program history. But in every sense of the word "team", it was a true team effort the propelled the Sharks to victory.
 
"Today it was finally clicking," said head coach Jenn King. "Every piece of our system was operating like it needed to. If there was an area or someone that needed help, everyone else stepped it up to help keep us going. It's truly exciting to see the girls play with confidence and joy. Tonight was a great step towards the goals we've set for our program and I could not be prouder of these Sharks!"
 
Although both of the Sharks' wins were about the team, one rookie's performance stood out among all others. Denvyr Tyler-Palmer (Fr., Jacksonville, Fla.) played like a seasoned veteran posting her first career double-double with a match-high 21 kills, a .386 hitting percentage and 11 digs against Flagler. Earlier in the day, she collected 17 digs and seven service aces in the win against Lynn. Over the two matches, she averaged 3.86 kills and 4.0 digs per set.
 
In the first match of the day, NSU defeated Lynn in three straight sets 25-22, 25-18, 25-18. The Sharks dominated both the first and third sets of the match and led from the opening serves. Lynn led early in the second set, but the Sharks outscored the Fighting Knights 17-10 down the stretch for the win.
 
The Sharks closed out the day with another exciting four-set match against Flagler. The Saints took a 1-0 match lead after winning the first set 25-20. But the Sharks came back to win the next three 27-25, 25-14, 25-22.  The Sharks hit an impressive .303 team percentage in the match behind Katie Pyles' (Jr., Denver, Colo.) 54 assists and dominated the defensive side of the court to fend of the Saints.
 
In addition to Tyler-Palmer's breakout performance, seniors Dana Holger (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Sydney Cook (Miami, Fla.) each finished with 27 kills on the day. Holger hit a blistering .370 percentage while Cook finished with a notable .312. Pyles averaged a season-high 12.4 assists per set and Kaelyn Brock (So., La Quinta, Calif.) turned in a 4.0 dig/set outing. Cook and Megan Burns (Fr., Slyvania, Ohio) added 21 and 18 digs respectively.
 
The Sharks will return to action on Friday, Sept. 24 facing off with SSC foe Florida Tech in Melbourne, Fla. at 7 p.m. They will close out another weekend of play that following Saturday against Florida Southern at 4 p.m. Currently, FSC is undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the SSC.