TAMPA, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team saw its three-match winning streak snapped on Tuesday night as the Eagles fell to No. 8 Tampa, 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 20-25, 25-18). The result moves ERAU's record to 11-5 overall and 5-4 in conference, while the Spartans improve to 16-1, 9-0 in SSC play.
Erika Barbour led all players with 18 kills while
Theresa Jordan and
McKenna James each chipped in with 10 kills.
Alyssa Rudd racked up a match-high 38 assists and added a team-high 17 digs for her 10th double-double of 2018, while
Olivia Roa tallied 14 digs and six assists.
The Spartans got off to a hot start, outhitting the Eagles .407 to .067 in the first set. Tampa ran out to a 5-1 lead that quickly grew to 9-3 and then 14-5. UT only allowed the Eagles to score back-to-back points on two occasions in the set as it cruised to a 25-13 win.
ERAU actually outhit UT .186 to .179 in the second set, but the Spartans took advantage of three setting errors and had three service aces, which proved to be the difference in the set. UT jumped out to a 6-2 lead but Embry-Riddle fought back and trimmed the deficit to a single point at 9-8. After Tampa regained a four-point cushion (13-9), the Eagles rattled off six straight points to take the lead, 15-13. A 3-0 Spartan run knotted things up at 18, but ERAU responded with three straight kills to go up 21-18. Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, those would be the final points that the Eagles would score in the set. Tampa ended the frame on a 7-0 run, including a pair of ball handling errors, to win the set, 25-21.
The Blue and Gold had its best defensive set in the third, limiting Tampa to a .132 attack percentage, while the Eagle offense hit at a .212 clip. An early 3-0 spurt put Embry-Riddle in front, 5-3, and ERAU would never trail for the rest of the set. UT pulled even three separate times, but every time the Eagles countered to stay in front. The last tie of the set was at 17, at which points the Blue and Gold went on a 6-1 run to pull out to a commanding 23-18 lead. Embry-Riddle gladly traded sideouts for the final four rallies to clinch a 25-20 win, sending the match to a fourth set.
Embry-Riddle's offense put forth its best effort in the fourth set, hitting .303, but the Spartans were even more efficient, posting a .400 attack percentage in the set. A pair of early 4-0 runs pushed UT to an 11-6 lead, which would prove to be an insurmountable advantage. The Eagles got as close as three points, but A late 4-0 surge put it out of reach as Tampa clinched the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-1.
The Eagles have another tough road test on Friday, Oct. 5, as they will travel to Miami Shores to take on Barry for the first time this season. Embry-Riddle will face the Bucs, who are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll, in a match slated to begin at 7 p.m.
