The Florida Tech Panthers women’s volleyball team lost to the No. 10 Barry Buccaneers, 3-0, on Sept. 22 at the Health and Sports Center in Miami Shores, Florida.
Barry won the match 25-15, 25-22 and 25-21. Florida Tech entered the Sunshine State Conference match with a 3-8 overall record and a 1-2 conference record, while Barry entered at 8-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
Barry Pulls Away in First Set
Florida Tech opened the match with a 5-2 lead behind kills from Scarlett Kimbrell and Isabelle Clark. Barry rallied to tie the set as the teams exchanged points.
After Cordelia Kearns recorded a kill to tie the score at 11-11, Barry used a 6-0 run to take control. Kimbrell and Kearns combined for a block, while Ayisha Missipo and Clark added kills, but the Buccaneers closed out the set 25-15.
Panthers Stay Close in Final Sets
Florida Tech again held an early advantage in the second set. The Panthers led 7-6, 9-8 and 13-11 as Kearns, Kimbrell, Missipo and Clark contributed kills, while Brooke Menke recorded two service aces during the early stretch.
The teams traded 3-0 runs, and the score remained within two points for much of the set. With the score tied at 18, Barry used a 5-0 run to build its largest lead. Kearns added two kills during Florida Tech’s response, but Barry won the set 25-22.
The third set followed a similar pattern, with both teams trading points and leads. Florida Tech trailed 11-8 before a 3-0 run, highlighted by a Kearns kill and a Clark ace, tied the set. Barry later led 15-12, but the Panthers answered with another 3-0 run to make it 15-15.
Florida Tech remained within reach late in the set, but Barry used another late push to finish the sweep with a 25-21 victory. The Panthers recorded a .300 hitting percentage, while the Buccaneers hit .365.
Next Match
Florida Tech will return home for its next Sunshine State Conference match against Palm Beach Atlantic University. The teams are scheduled to meet Sept. 26 at 4 p.m.
FSB Take
Florida Tech created several opportunities to challenge Barry, including early leads in the first two sets and ties at 11-11 and 15-15 in the third. The Panthers could not convert those stretches into a set victory as Barry closed out the match in three sets.
Florida Tech’s next opportunity comes Sept. 26, when the Panthers host Palm Beach Atlantic University in Sunshine State Conference play.
Source: Original report