WINTER PARK, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Sharks Volleyball fell in both its matches on its two-match road trip facing Embry-Riddle and Rollins in Sunshine State Conference matches.
Records: Nova Southeastern 8-8 (1-4 SSC) | Embry-Riddle 10-4 (3-2 SSC)
Location: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram – NSU_VBall
First Set (25-20, ERAU) – The Eagles soared to a quick start with three separate runs of three points early on to take a quick 10-5 lead. NSU battled back, getting within a point in multiple different instances but Embry-Riddle was able to hold on using a five-unanswered stretch with three kills and a service ace to force match point at 24-16. The Sharks would score four-straight but it wasn't enough as a kill by the Eagles' Lindsay Smith finished the opening set for the home team on their homecoming match.
Second Set (25-16, ERAU) – Embry-Riddle had its best set of the match hitting .333 as a team while holding NSU to a percentage of .094. After a fast NSU start to lead the set 6-2, ERAU went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. The Eagles would never relinquish it as they coasted to a second set victory putting the Sharks on the brink of defeat.
Third Set (26-24, ERAU) – NSU had its best set of the match hitting north of .300.
Langdon Blackstock shined in her first career start leading the Sharks in kills and attacks.
Matt Geer also shifted his offense turning to a two-setter approach with
Abbie Roth and
Macy Lentz, the latter of whom led the team in assists for the first time this season. NSU pushed Embry-Riddle to set point at 24-22 but four-unanswered from the Eagles won the match in straight sets for the home team.
Macy Lentz collected her first Shark double-double with 15 assists and 13 digs.
Records: Nova Southeastern 8-9 (1-5 SSC) | Rollins 9-8 (2-4 SSC)
Location: Alfond Sports Center | Winter Park, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram – NSU_VBall
First Set (25-17, RC) – The Tars came out of the gate like a lightning bolt hitting .533 with 17 kills to just one error on 30 attacks. The 17 kills combined with five attacking errors, a Shark service error and a blocking error were enough to get Rollins most of the way to the required 25 to win in one of the Tars' best sets of the season statistically.
Second Set (25-17, RC) – Rollins started to float back down to Earth but still hit .375 in the second frame making things difficult for Nova Southeastern. The Sharks used a couple of points earned by
Natalya Bergant to go on a four-point run. Rollins was able to hold off the NSU attack with a Shark attacking error on set point giving the Tars a 2-0 set lead.
Third Set (35-33, NSU) – Neither team could gain separation with the largest lead of the set at three. The Sharks battled in their best set of the match using kills from
Macy Lentz,
Langdon Blackstock and
Dana Gibbons to push the Tars to set point at 24-23. The Tars were able to flip it to force the third set over 25 for the second consecutive match for the Sharks. The Sharks and Tars teeter-tottered the next few points until Rollins had a chance to end the match with match point at 27-26. A RC service error quickly ended that threat. With the set pushing over 30 points it was the Tars' service mixed with kills from
Natalya Bergant and
Caiden Largent that kept giving the Sharks the advantage. At 34-33,
Taylor Teaman got a service ace on a Rollins rotation error to win the set for NSU.
Fourth Set (25-17, RC) – Rollins came back out with a vengeance after dropping a difficult third set and took an early 9-4 lead before the Sharks scored four in a row cutting the deficit to just one. The Tars got the next four back in the midst of a 7-2 run to take a six-point lead. Facing a 17-12 deficit the Sharks couldn't stop the Tars who scored five in a row as part of another 7-2 run earning match point at 24-13. NSU was able to hold off the Tars momentarily scoring four straight with kills from
Macy Lentz and
Caiden Largent but a kill from Rollins' Kayla Goodloe put a bow on the match giving Rollins the four set victory. It is the first time Rollins has defeated the Sharks in Winter Park in less than five sets since 2014.
Rollins head coach Mika Robinson collected her 100
th victory at the helm of the Tars with the win.
Macy Lentz was just three kills shy of the first Shark triple-double in a decade.
Nova Southeastern continues its three-match road-trip on Tuesday, Oct. 6 against No. 13 Lynn at 7 p.m. The Sharks return home next on Saturday, Oct. 10 against Palm Beach Atlantic for NSU's only home match in October.
To stay up to date with Nova Southeastern volleyball, follow us on Instagram @NSU_VBall or by logging online to NSUSharks.com.
