The No. 7 University of Tampa volleyball team (26-2, 13-1 SSC) completed another perfect week with two crucial SSC away victories.
First up was the Nov. 4 match at Saint Leo, which handed Tampa its only home and conference loss of the season on Oct. 3. This time the Spartans stepped into hostile territory as the visiting team.
Things looked bleak for UT early, as the Lions took the first set 25-20. The loss ended the Spartans’ 30-game winning streak that dated back to the previous sweep by Saint Leo. It was after this set that UT regained its composure.
“After we lost the first set, we all looked at each other and said, ‘We’re not doing this again,’” sophomore Julie Howlett said. “We just played like we knew we could.”
Cunningham felt the same way, calling the opening game “a little wakeup call” and adding her teammates likely felt the same way.
The second set was a back and fourth affair that saw the Lions take a 22-19 lead.
However, UT stormed back with four consecutive kills from junior Kaleigh Cunningham, who finished with 18. This allowed UT to win the set 25-23 and even the match at one.
The Spartans found their rhythm in the third set, taking an early lead and never looking back in a 25-18 win.
The team had seven total blocks in the frame as freshman Danielle Selkridge led the way with four. The win gave UT a critical 2-1 advantage.
In the fourth set it became clear UT had all the momentum. Tampa took an 11-5 lead and only stretched it from there, dominating by a 25-14 score.
Leading the way for UT were juniors Melissa Vanderhall, who put up an unbelievable 20 kills, and Cunningham, who finished with a double-double of 18 kills and 15 digs.
Howlett led defensively with a remarkable 21 digs in the match.
The victory allowed UT to tie Saint Leo for first place in the conference and region.
“We proved to ourselves that we can do a lot when we put our minds to it,” Howlett said.
The win was another in a long line of come-from-behind sets and matches this season.
“That’s been one of the traits of this team,” UT head coach Chris Catanach said of their recent comebacks.
The Spartans hit the road again Sunday, this time to Jenkins Field House to take on arch-rival Florida Southern. This gave UT another opportunity for retribution, as they had not won in Lakeland since 2004.
The first set appeared to be in UT’s favor, but they nearly blew a 21-15 lead when the Moccasins cut it to 22-21. However, the Spartans won 25-23 with help from Eva Dupay and Vanderhall.
UT again found their rhythm in the second set and surged to a 25-15 triumph.
Vanderhall, Cunningham and sophomore Camille Hanks all came through with four kills each to boost the Spartans.
The third set was even better for UT, as they played one of their most dominating games of the season.
The Spartans sealed the match with a 25-12 trouncing of the Moccasins that saw Cunningham post a .531 hitting percentage, again leading the offense.
Cunningham finished with a match-high 11 kills while Hanks had ten and hit an astounding .714. Dupay was not far behind, turning in nine kills of her own. Defensively, Howlett again led the match in digs with 12. The sweep emphatically gave UT its first win at Florida Southern in five years.
“We knew we were the better team,” Cunningham said. “We just needed to go in and play with confidence.… It was a great feeling to finally break the trend.”
“Winning at [Florida Southern] felt awesome,” Howlett said. “But we have a bigger goal in mind and that is to hopefully win conference and then a regional title.”
Coach Catanach agreed, saying greater emphasis was placed on staying even with Saint Leo in its fight for the conference title.
The regular season ends for UT Saturday at home against Barry.
The South Region tournament begins Nov. 18.