Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT LAUDERDALE – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (4-0) is now in full swing in 2016 as the Sharks close out the Ninth Annual Sharks Invitational picking up four wins. The Sharks finished the final day with a 3-1 win over Bentley by set scores of 20-25, 25-8, 27-25, 25-18 and a 3-2 win to preseason ranked No. 11 Rockhurst (25-27, 27-29, 25-23, 25-21, 15-11) on Saturday night at the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
 
As the Sharks continued their streak of now 13 straight matches won in the fifth set, Denvyr Tyler-Palmer (So., Jacksonville, Fla.) played a major role in the team's opening weekend. On the final day of the invitational, she recorded a remarkable 45 kills, 23 digs and six blocks, which included a career-high 29 kills against Rockhurst to close out final day. Over the course of the two-day, four-match tournament, she recorded 84 kills (4.94 k/s avg.) 92 total points, 42 digs (2.47 d/s avg.) and eight total blocks.
 
Katie Pyles (Sr., Denver, Colo.) posted back-to-back double-doubles in assists and digs to help guide the team offensively, while defensively Megan Burns (So., Sylvania, Ohio) added 51 total digs collecting 23 and 28 respectively over the two matches on the final day.
 
MATCH 1 BOX SCORE - BENTLEY
After a 2-0 start on day one of the tournament, the Sharks extended their win streak to three matches with a 3-1 over Bentley. NSU got off to a rocky start in the match and fell behind 1-0 to the visiting Falcons. Coming into the second set and following their team motto "#GR1T", the Sharks blasted through the opposition 25-8 to even the score. NSU went on to take the next two sets 27-25 and 25-18 to close out the match for the win.
 
Tyler-Palmer posted her second double-double in as many days with 16 kills and 12 digs, while newcomers Tashalyn Begon (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Jessica Ronyak (Sr., Burton, Ohio) followed with 12 and 10 kills respectively. Megan Burns (So., Sylvania, Ohio) added a season-high 23 digs and Pyles added a double-double 46 assists and 14 digs.
 
MATCH 2 BOX SCORE - ROCKHURST
In the nightcap against No. 11 Rockhurst, NSU fell short in the opening frame 27-25 despite erasing nearly a seven-point deficit. The second set was yet another strong battle back and forth between the two teams. The Hawks pulled out to an early 5-2 lead, but NSU came back to tie it 7-7. Rockhurst never trailed during the set, but the Sharks fought point-for-point and tied the frame 12 more times before falling 29-27.
 
Facing possible defeat for the first time in 2016, the Sharks managed to regroup between sets two and three. Coming out of the break, took the next two winning by scores of 25-23 and 25-21 to even the score 2-2 to send the match in to the decisive fifth set. The Sharks took control from the very beginning of the final set and despite Rockhurst tying the score twice, NSU held their opposition in check and cruised to victory lane with a 15-11 final set score to take the match 3-2. It is the 13^th straight match dating back to 2014 that the NSU volleyball program has won in the fifth set.
 
Tyler-Palmer dominated the floor offensively with a career-high 29 kills and added 11 digs and six blocks to her final tally on the day. Ronyak hit a hot .351 with 16 kills and Begon finished with her first double-double as a Shark with 14 kills and 14 digs. Pyles added 55 assists and 16 digs for her third double-double of the year and Burns led the team with 28 digs. Maddie Uilk (So., Longmont, Colo.) added a career-best 12 total blocks.
 
NSU will return to action on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 when they travel to Pueblo, Colo. to take part in the CSU-Pueblo Steel and Silver Classic. The Sharks will face highly touted Wayne State (Neb.) to start fo