Top-ranked Spartans Start Strong at Home

TAMPA, Fla. – The top-ranked Spartans start their home campaign how they finished the last time they played at the Bob Martinez Center, with a sweep.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 

Final Score: No. 1 Tampa 3 (1: 25-16, 2: 25-17, 3: 25-21), Tusculum 0

Records: No. 1 Tampa 5-0, 0-2 Tusculum

Location: Bob Martinez Center || Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

First Set: The first 23 points of the set were tightly contested. Either team could really get away from each other. Hayley Dillon contributed greatly with 3 kills. The defending national champions were down 13-12 to the Pioneers when the Spartans went on an 8-2 run, taking the lead 21-14. Back-to-back blocks from Dillon and Kalli Cors helped put the Spartans in favorable position. The Spartans finish out the first set of the year at the Bob Martinez Center. Score: 1-0 Tampa

Second Set:  The second set started the same, neither team could get away from each other. A couple of three-point swings from both sides and the score was 13-11 Tampa. Cors led the Spartans with a couple of kills in the second set. Another 9-2 run from the top-ranked Spartans help them close out the set 25-17. Score: 2-0 Tampa

Third Set: Tampa found themselves down early 5-2. An emphatic kill from Jenna Vaske sparked the Spartans and woke up the Bob Martinez crowd. The Spartans were up four and let the Pioneers stick around and made it 23-21. Nathaly Perez secured the first home win of the season with a set ending ace. FINAL: 3-0 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• Dillon and Tess Schrenger led the Spartans with a combined 17 kills.
• Mackenzie Dufresne had three blocks on the night.
• Zoey Seput and Emily Noe combined for 34 assists.