Abbie Roth reached 1,000 career assists, but Nova Southeastern University Sharks Women’s Volleyball fell to Florida Tech in a five-set Sunshine State Conference opener Friday, Sept. 18, at Clemente Center in Melbourne. Florida Tech won the deciding set 16-14 after the Sharks recovered from an 0-2 deficit by taking the third and fourth sets, each 25-20. Nova Southeastern entered the match 7-5 and opened conference play 0-1.
Roth reached the milestone on her ninth assist of the match during the second set. The sophomore finished with 44 assists, 15 digs, four kills and two total blocks. She recorded 615 assists as a freshman before reaching 1,000 during her sophomore season.
Sharks recover after two-set deficit
Florida Tech won the first set 25-11 after building 7-0 and 9-0 runs. The Panthers then took the second set 25-20, although Nova Southeastern pulled within one point at 21-20 before Florida Tech scored the final four points. The result gave Florida Tech a two-set lead.
Nova Southeastern adjusted its lineup after outside hitter Erika Spankus went down during pregame warmups. Head coach Matt Geer made the change shortly before first serve, and the Sharks responded with stronger play as the match continued. Nova Southeastern finished with 11 total blocks, while Florida Tech recorded 16.
The Sharks opened the third set with an 8-1 run and held on for a 25-20 victory. Caiden Largent, Natalya Bergant and Roth supplied early kills, while Brooke Spurgeon added three kills late in the set and established a career high in the frame. Nova Southeastern hit .324 in the set.
Nova Southeastern carried the momentum into the fourth set by taking an early 5-1 lead. Blocks from Bergant, Mia Mccurley, Hadley Dantzler and Spurgeon helped the Sharks secure another 25-20 win and tie the match at two sets apiece. Spurgeon also set career highs in assisted blocks and total blocks during the set.
Florida Tech holds off fifth-set rally
Florida Tech opened the fifth set with two three-point runs and led 6-3 before Nova Southeastern responded. The Sharks scored four consecutive points after a timeout, and the teams eventually reached a 10-10 tie. Florida Tech then moved ahead 13-10.
The Panthers reached what they believed was match point at 14-11, but a successful challenge by Geer kept Nova Southeastern alive. Amalee Doyle followed with back-to-back service aces, giving the Sharks match point at 14-13. A service error and a Florida Tech block shifted the advantage back to the Panthers, who finished the match on a Nova Southeastern attacking error for the 16-14 win.
Roth, Bergant and Largent post double-doubles
Roth was one of three Nova Southeastern players to record a double-double. Bergant finished with 12 kills, 14 digs and three total blocks, while Largent led the Sharks with 18 kills and added 11 digs.
Hadley Dantzler contributed nine kills and six total blocks. Nova Southeastern also committed 13 service errors in the match. Florida Tech entered at 3-6 and improved to 1-0 in Sunshine State Conference play.
Next match
Nova Southeastern will host Barry on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. in its Sunshine State Conference home opener. The match will be the Sharks’ next opportunity to pursue their first conference win of the season. Nova Southeastern will enter that match with a 0-1 conference record.
FSB Take
Nova Southeastern turned a two-set deficit into a tied match, winning the third and fourth sets by identical 25-20 scores before Florida Tech prevailed in a 16-14 fifth set. Roth’s 1,000-assist milestone stood out in a difficult conference opener, while the service-error total and Florida Tech’s blocking advantage were significant parts of the final result. The Sharks will return home against Barry on Sept. 19.
Source: Original report