Rollins Trips Panthers In Volleyball

By  //  October 11, 2012

Lynn University Next Opponent

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech won the first set over Rollins after leading by as many as 11 points, but the Rollins College Tars rebounded by winning the next three and defeating the Panthers in volleyball Wednesday night at the Clemente Center.

Senior Caitlyn Ballweber led the Panthers with 11 kills in a loss to Rollins College. (Image courtesy Florida Tech)

Set scores were 21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-15.

The Panthers’ three-match win streak ends with the loss, while the Tars have now won four of their last five.

Looking to break a .500 winning percentage in the Sunshine State Conference, Florida Tech (12-6, 3-4 SSC) came out with a vengeance in set one. Rollins showed some life late, trimming down an 11-point deficit to three, 23-20, only to have Alexis Mastela and Marilyn Dick record the home team’s final two kills.

However, Rollins (10-8, 4-3 SSC) quickly regrouped and never trailed in the second set.

The third frame was highly contested throughout until Jill Lau’s kill broke a 21-all tie. From that point, the Tars held a slight advantage over their counterparts until a Panther attack error pushed Rollins to a two-point victory.

Trailing 2-1 in the match, FIT was held to a .200 attack percentage in the fourth set. Rollins’ Megan Hodges pounded seven kills in the set and committed one error. She finished with a game-high 24 kills and hit .618 for the match.

Caitlyn Ballweber paced the Panthers with 11 kills. Alea Hamm added seven on 12 attempts without a single miscue. Mastela’s setting contributed to 34 kills.  Angie Lassman, this week’s SSC Defensive Player of the Week presented by VALIC, had a team-high 17 digs.

The Panthers will meet Lynn University at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Clemente Center.