TAMPA, Fla. – In a turnaround season that pushed Barry University’s volleyball team right into postseason contention, the Buccaneers lost the regular season finale to host No. 1 Tampa Friday, 25-19, 25-9, 25-20.
Barry (17-12, 7-9 Sunshine State Conference) rose to No. 7 in the NCAA Division II South Region poll this week after an impressive sweep over Saint Leo last weekend. The top eight teams in each of the country's eight regions qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Tampa completed the regular season with a 27-1, 15-0 record, and will host the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament at the South Regional next weekend.
The Buccaneers, who picked up their second winning season in the last three years, improved by six wins this year under fourth-year coach Steve Hendricks. The 17 wins matched Hendricks' win total from 2012.
Barry senior Jayla Trombley, who played her final regular season collegiate match, finished with seven kills and hit .429 against the top-ranked Spartans. She also had six digs and a solo block.
The Bucs hung with the Spartans serve for serve in the opening set, taking an 11-9 lead when sophomore setter Jenny Trinidad converted a Jasmine Serna setup into a kill. After Tampa went ahead by two, kills by Trombley and Ivana Didanovic tied the match at 14-14. In an opening set that featured 13 ties and six lead changes, Barry traded points with Tampa over the next eight serves before Tashalyn Begon's kill put the Bucs ahead, 19-18. But the Spartans rattled off seven of the final eight points to win the first set.
After dropping the second set, Barry collected itself in the third set, despite trying to play in catchup mode. Didanovic's kill kept it close, 9-7, on the 16th serve of the set. Tampa widened its lead to four before Begon slammed down one of her seven kills. The Spartans increased their lead to seven, but a pair of Tampa errors made it, 22-17. A kill by Begon kept the Buccaneers within five before the Spartans won two of the last three points.
Tampa hit .322, which was .149 less than the Spartans attacked in the first time the two teams met this season.
Trinidad finished with 23 assists, an ace and hit .273. Didanovic had five kills, a block and a .400 attack rate. Brittany Jaco had 10 digs and an ace.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is set for 10 p.m. Sunday, and can be seen by visiting: http://www.ncaa.com/live/player?vid=2014/1841&date=2014/11/16)