TAMPA, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team came up short in its final match of the regular season on Saturday, falling to ninth-ranked Tampa 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 28-26). The loss drops ERAU's season record to 25-6 overall and 15-5 in conference play, while the Spartans go to 28-2, 19-1 in SSC matches.
 
Cameron Gilleland led all players with 17 kills and added 13 digs, while Jaden McBride chipped in with seven kills and four digs. Aly Freeland had a team-high 17 digs and Hunter Ackerman added 13 digs to go along with four kills. Emily Weaver had a match-leading 31 assists and added eight digs and three kills.
 
The Spartans used an early 6-0 run to sprint out to an 8-2 lead in the opening set. The Tampa lead steadily grew to double-digits (19-9) as the home side took the frame by a 25-15 score.
 
The Blue and Gold went on a 9-2 spurt in the second set to grab a 14-7 advantage. The Spartans rallied with six straight points to make it 14-13, but a Gilleland kill preserved the lead and sparked a quick 3-0 response to push the margin to 17-13. Tampa was only able to get back within two as the Eagles pulled away late for a 25-20 victory, tying the match at a set apiece.
 
Set three saw the Spartans take an early 7-2 lead, which they would maintain throughout the set. The Eagles went on a late 4-0 run to cut the deficit to a single point (22-21), but Tampa was able to side out the rest of the way to hold on to its lead, eventually claiming a 25-23 win.
 
ERAU scored the first four points of the fourth set and the Blue and Gold stayed out front until UT scored five straight points to pull ahead 17-14. The Spartans looked ready to close it out, leading 23-20, when the Eagles scored three straight, including a pair of McBride kills, to knot things up at 23. After a Tampa point gave the home team its first match point, Gilleland scored a clutch kill and Devyn Petrowski followed that with a service ace, giving the Eagles set point at 25-24. After the Spartans stayed alive with a kill, Jenna Bishop came up big with a kill that made it 26-25, producing a second set point for Embry-Riddle. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Tampa rallied with three straight points to win the set, 28-26, clinching the match three sets to one.
 
The Eagles will now await their postseason fate, which will be announced during the NCAA II Volleyball Selection Show on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.