MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Barry University volleyball team (11-17, 3-9 SSC) dropped their second straight Sunshine State Conference match, this time a 3-1 decision to the Florida Tech Panthers (20-12, 3-12 SSC) on Friday night at the Clemente Center. The Buccaneers fell by game scores of 28-30, 30-24, 30-28, and 30-22.
The Buccaneers started in complete control of the match and led by as much as six points on their way to a 30-28 win. However, the Panthers came out in game two and the momentum shifted. Trading point-for-point the first 30 points score, Florida Tech managed to break away on an 8-4 run and evened the match at one game apiece with the 30-24 win.
In game three, the Panthers led by seven, but the Bucs made them earn a 30-28 win after outscoring FIT 12-6 down the stretch. The Buccaneers continued to struggle in the final set, but suffered a huge blow when the nations kill leader Camilla Pagnan went down with an injury. The Panthers took advantage of the Bucs being a player down and won 30-22 to take the match.
Even with an injury, Pagnan led the Buccaneers with 17 kills and added 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. Samara Ferreira followed with a career-high 15 kills and hit a blistering .522 clip, while both Stefanie Sveiven and Caitlin Shawver added 12 kills each. Maria Romanowski finished with 60 assists and Lauren Evans closed out with a match-high 29 digs. Spenser Rigg and Julie Priester each collected 11 digs.
Jessi Metzger led the Panthers with 16 kills and a .400 clip. She was followed by Mayne Pegorari and Sacha Gumbs with 14 and 13 kills respectively. Marcela Vasconcelos recorded FIT’s only double-double with 42 assists and 13 digs, while Amanda Boyce added 18 digs.
The Buccaneers will resume their three-match road trip in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday taking on the 11th-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins at 4 pm in Jenkins Fieldhouse.
Florida Tech def. Barry 28-30, 30-24, 30-28, 30-22
Barry (11-16, 3-8 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Camilla Pagnan 17-1-0; Samara Ferreira 15-0-2; Stefanie Sveiven 12-0-1; Caitlin Shawver 12-0-1; Meisje-Sable Burton 6-1-3; Maria Romanowski 3-0-1; Danielle Bishop 2-0-2; Julie Priester 0-1-0; Lauren Evans 0-2-0; Totals 67-5-6.0. (Assists) - Maria Romanowski 60. (Dig leaders) - Lauren Evans 29; Spenser Rigg 11; Julie Priester 11; Camilla Pagnan 10; Maria Romanowski 9
Florida Tech (20-12, 3-12 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jessie Metzger 16-2-2; Mayne Pegorari 14-0-0; Sacha Gumbs 13-0-1; Leigh Ann Brown 9-0-6; Marcela Vasconcelos 5-0-3; Amanda Boyce 2-0-1; Lindsay Foster 2-0-1; Amy O'Brien 1-1-0; Totals 62-3-8.0. (Assists) - Marcela Vasconcelos 42. (Dig leaders) - Amanda Boyce 18; Amy O'Brien 16; Marcela Vasconcelos 13; Mayne Pegorari 9
Site: Melbourne, Fla. (Clemente Center)
Date: 11/02/2007 Attend: 253 Time: 2:00
Referees: Don Fennell, Donna Beasley