Box Score  TAMPA, Fla. – Returning to Sunshine State Conference play after the GSC/SSC this past weekend, the Nova Southeastern volleyball team fell in straight sets to the host Tampa Spartans on Friday evening.  
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: L, 0-3 (22-25, 25-27, 18-25)
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern Sharks (4-12, 2-7 SSC), Tampa Spartans (10-10, 5-4 SSC)
LOCATION: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.
FOLLOW US: @NSUSHARKS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
SET 1 | The two teams exchanged points early on through the match until a four-point run by the Sharks gave them an 11-7 advantage. At 12-10 in NSU's favor, the Spartans used an 8-2 run to take the lead from the Sharks. NSU responded with a four-point run of their own to knot the game once more, 18-18, before the Spartans pulled away and never looked back, ultimately ending up on top, 25-22.
 
SET 2 | Down 13-10 in the second, the Sharks took advantage of three-consecutive errors by Tampa to tie things up, 13-13. UT was able to pull away and earn an 18-15 edge, but the Sharks rallied to tie the game again, 18-18. Heading down the stretch, Tampa went ahead, 23-21, forcing the Sharks to call timeout. After the break, NSU used back-to-back errors to bring the score to 23 points each, and Tampa was forced to use a timeout of their own. A Shark error put UT in game-winning position, 24-23, but an error by the Spartans and an ace by Megan Burns reversed the advantage, putting NSU a point away from a set-two win. Tampa did not surrender, however, and responded with a three-point run for a 27-25 win.
 
SET 3 | Much like the first two sets, the two teams stayed close to each other until the score got into the double digits when the Spartans used a 5-1 run to take a 15-9 edge. Kills by Nicole Rivera, Kim Blasko and Denvyr Tyler-Palmer brought the Sharks within three, 15-12, but it was not enough as Tampa went up as much as eight points en route to a 25-18 win and overall 3-0 victory.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:

• The Sharks out-hit the Spartans in both the first and second sets, .333 to .250 and .129 to .088.
• NSU also tallied six total blocks to Tampa's five.
• Tyler-Palmer led the Sharks with 11 kills, while Jane Early added seven and Nicole Rivera tallied six.
• Samantha Blasko continues to drive the offense, recording 27 assists.
• Amanda Pultorak led both sides with 4.0 total blocks.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Early's seven kills not only tied her season-high, but her career-high, as well.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Sharks will travel to Lakeland, Fla. tomorrow afternoon to take on the host Florida Southern Moccasins at 4:00 p.m.
 
 
SHARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
 
Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_VBALL.