FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Sharks Volleyball ended its season putting up a valiant effort before getting backdoor swept by No. 4 Tampa on Saturday evening.
Prior to the match, Nova Southeastern honored its five graduating seniors:
Brooke Spurgeon,
Erika Spankus,
Caiden Largent,
Dana Gibbons and
Cami Sekanina.
Records: Nova Southeastern 13-18 (6-14 SSC) | No. 4 Tampa 26-3 (18-2 SSC)
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale Fla.
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First Set (28-26, NSU) – In front of one of the largest crowds of the season, the Sharks didn't disappoint using a 5-1 run to take an early 8-5 lead. Tampa fought back in the set using a 6-1 run of its own to draw back within one at 17-16. After the Sharks rebuilt a three point lead off the back of two kills from
Caiden Largent, the Spartans stormed back with four unanswered points to take the lead. A bit of back and forth tied the set at 24 to push the set beyond 25. Tampa got to set point on three separate occasions, but the Sharks always found a way to strike back with a
Brooke Spurgeon kill, Tampa attacking error and a block from
Hadley Dantzler and
Abbie Roth capped a 3-0 run to win the set for the Sharks in front of a raucous home crowd.
Second Set (25-18, UT) – The Sharks carried its momentum from the first set into the second taking a few leads on the Spartans eventually building a two-point advantage at 10-8 before the Spartans took off on a 7-2 run to take the lead. NSU managed to draw back within two points off a Tampa attacking error but the Spartans quickly recovered scoring five unanswered to take a seven point lead at 23-16.
Taylor Norris fought to earn a couple of points with a kill and a block with
Natalya Bergant, but the Spartans powered through with a kill from the leading point-scorer Connor Rahn evening the set score at ones.
Third Set (25-15, UT) – Tampa dominated the third set hitting .407 using a mid-set 10-1 run to take a commanding 18-8 lead. The Sharks attempted to battle back with blocks from
Hadley Dantzler and
Taylor Norris and kills from
Brooke Spurgeon and
Caiden Largent, but the Spartans kept the lead stable winning the set by ten points with a finishing blow from Ainhoa Molleja.
Fourth Set (25-20, UT) – With their backs against the wall, the Sharks fought back and chomped down on the Spartans rallying back-and-fourth with the No. 4 team in the land eventually pulling into a 20-20 tie with Tampa down the stretch of the set. Tampa would score the next five points to end the match..
Tampa's victory clinched a share of the Sunshine State Conference Championship alongside Barry.
Caiden Largent on her senior night collected a new career high with 61 attacks. She earned 17 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.
Natalya Bergant also added a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Cami Sekanina also set a new career-high with 18 digs leading the team.
Abbie Roth led in assists with 46. Freshman
Taylor Norris capped her first season with the Sharks by leading the home squad in blocks with four.
- Caiden Largent: 17 kills, 11 digs
- Natalya Bergant: 14 kills, 10 digs, 2 block assists
- Abbie Roth: 46 assists, 1 kill, 1 service ace, 5 digs
- Taylor Norris: 4 kills, 4 block assists
- Cami Sekanina: 18 digs, 4 assists
- Brooke Spurgeon: 9 kills, 11 digs, .421 hitting %
Nova Southeastern ends its regular season at 13-18 with a 6-14 mark in Sunshine State Conference play. It also caps the first season the program was helmed by head coach
Matt Geer. The Sharks will return to the court in 2027.
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