TAMPA, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat (25-22, 25-9, 21-25, 25-17) at No. 19 Tampa on Friday night. With the loss, ERAU falls to 6-4 on the year while the Spartans improve to 8-3.
 
Paola Virella led the Eagles with 10 kills while Amanda Saunders added nine kills and nine digs and McKenna James chipped in with seven kills. Maile Spenser anchored the defense with 17 digs while Jordan Nakayama (15 assists, nine digs) and Alyssa Rudd (13 assists, five digs) handled the setting duties.
 
The first set saw the lead change hands three times in the early going, with Tampa eventually using a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 lead that it would not surrender. The Spartan advantage grew to as many as five (18-13) before the Blue and Gold rattled off four straight points to make it an 18-17 score. The Eagles couldn't pull even and UT eventually pulled away for a 25-22 win.
 
In the second set, Tampa got the early jump on ERAU and never looked back. The Spartans led 6-1, 13-2, and 19-4 en route to a 25-9 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The Eagles found their footing in the third frame, leading for a majority of the set. Tampa went on a 6-1 run to take a 16-13 lead, giving the home fans reason to believe the Spartans would go on to sweep the Eagles. But Embry-Riddle fought back, scoring five straight points and eight of nine to retake the lead, 21-17, and the Eagles would hang on for a 25-21 set three win, sending the match to a fourth set.
 
Tampa got off to a much better start in set four, jumping out to an early 8-3 lead before Joslynn Gallop called timeout. The Blue and Gold scored three straight points out of the timeout, but UT didn't allow the Eagles to draw any closer. Tampa closed out the match on a 9-3 spurt to claim the fourth set, 25-17, earning the 3-1 victory.
 
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow with a road match at Saint Leo scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.