Andy SullivanThe University of Tampa and Florida Southern College have perhaps the biggest rivalry in Division II sports. UT and FSC are located just 36 miles from each other, and both schools are part of the Sunshine State Conference. It seems like no matter what sport these two teams are playing against each other it is always a close contest.
So when top-ranked UT volleyball traveled to Lakeland on Friday to take on the #5 Moccasins, everyone expected a highly competitive match. What they didn’t expect was a dominating effort from Florida Southern. But that is exactly what happened.
Florida Southern took complete control of the match from the beginning, sweeping the Spartans three games to zero (30-26, 33-31, 30-22). The Mocs got revenge for an earlier contest in the season when UT defeated FSC in a tournament in Colorado. “I didn’t think we played that bad,” said Tampa middle blocker Danielle MacDonald.
“We could have played better, but Florida Southern played great. That was probably the best they have played this season.
A Florida Southern-record crowd of 1,012 showed up to see the match. An astonishing number considering that the enrollment at Florida Southern is 1,750. “The crowd was a factor,” said MacDonald.
“We communicated well with each other, but the crowd was an advantage for them. Their fans pumped up them and kept them energized throughout the match.”
The demise of the Spartans in the match was their hitting percentage, combined with consistent play from Moccasins outside hitter/middle blocker Ashley Martin. UT could not contain Martin, who recorded 17 kills in the match.
Tampa had a less then stellar offensive performance as they were outhit .300 to .210. The normally dependable Tarah Marinelli had just three kills in the match and recorded four errors. Katelen Dixon, one of Tampa’s top offensive performers this season, also had four errors and hit just .135 in the match.
Marinelli sprained her ankle in the match but is expected to be return to action soon. “We will miss her, but hopefully she will be back soon,” said MacDonald. “She is a big part of the team.”
UT is now 17-1 overall and 5-1 in the SSC. Although the team suffered their first loss, MacDonald thinks there is something positive to take out of the game. “As much as it sucks to lose, we can focus now and enjoy the rest of the season. We don’t have the pressure on us to go undefeated.”
The team’s next game is on Friday, Oct. 13, against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras at 7 p.m. inside the Bob Martinez Sports Center.