Tampa Spikes Panthers In Volleyball
By Florida Tech // October 24, 2012
Florida Tech Hosts Eckerd On Friday
TAMPA, FLORIDA – The Florida Tech Panthers fell to No. 6 Tampa 3-0 in women’s college volleyball Tuesday at the Bob Martinez Sports Center.
The Panthers dropped sets (25-12, 25-22, 25-18) and are now 14-7 overall and 4-5 in Sunshine State Conference play, while the Spartans improve to 20-3 overall and remain undefeated in the SSC at 9-0.
Trailing 1-0 in the match following a tough opening set, Florida Tech responded in the second set after trailing by as many as eight points. Kim Juriga’s kill from Alexis Mastela kicked off an 8-3 run punctuated by a solo block from high-flying Janice Valies to force a timeout and cut Tampa’s lead to 22-20.
The Spartans, however, would tack on two points, and the Panthers countered with two of their own, but they were unable to prevent Meagan Burke from knocking down one of her 10 kills to clinch the set.
Tampa committed just seven attack errors in the match. Burke led the opposition with 10 kills and hit a game-high .769. Tying the SSC’s Defensive Player of the Week presented by VALIC in kills was Valies.
Mastela, who entered this week ranked third in the SSC with an average of 9.71 assists per set, finished with 32 total assists.
On Friday, the Panthers will begin their final home stand of the season when they take on Eckerd at 7 p.m. at the Clemente Center.
When Nova Southeastern travels to Melbourne on Saturday for a 4 p.m. match, the Panthers will honor its four seniors as part of Senior Day.
The team will conclude the home portion of its regular-season schedule on Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. against Barry at Palm Bay High School’s gym.
